Web Policies

INTRODUCTION
Missouri Baptist University (MBU) recognizes the web as an important tool for communicating with external audiences as well as for facilitating the exchange of information with the institution's community. Therefore it is essential that our pages provide the best possible representation of Missouri Baptist University.

The following Standards and Guidelines are meant to provide all MBU web audiences with improvements in the accuracy, credibility, appearance, and timeliness of the information presented while encouraging innovation among MBU web page designers and information providers.

WEB SUPERVISION
The MBU web site is under the direct responsibility and supervision of the Office of University Communications. Various departments and professors are able to manage pages/sections for respective MBU material. All pages must be maintained according to this policy. All requests to publish official University information on the web site must be submitted in writing to the University Web Manager at least three days prior to the desired date of publication. The Director of University Communications and the Web Manager will evaluate requests, and reserve the right to edit or decline the information. Final oversight regarding published web information may be required by the Vice President for Institutional Advancement.

SEARCH INCLUSION
Most pages published within the University web environment will be indexed and available via the campus search engine. A few exceptions may be made for logistical or financial reasons. Departments requiring a mass amount of indexing may be billed for service.

GENERAL POLICIES REGARDING ALL MBU PAGES

  • Use of any web or Internet related University resources to engage in illegal activities (e.g. activities that violate laws of copyright, licensing, slander, libel, etc.) would be considered an abuse of privileges. Violators will be subject to University regulations covering abuse of privileges (See the Computer Use Policy PPM 1.020).
  • The use of outside designers to develop web pages must be coordinated with the Web Manager. Pages developed must operate and be maintainable within the University web environment.
  • No student, faculty, or staff member may create a publicly accessible web server or host a web site without the express permission of the Director of University Communications.
  • All files located within the University web environment must be a current, accurate content components. All development, test, or duplicate files must be stored outside of the active web environment. The MBU Web Manager is exempted from this stipulation.
  • Links to off-campus pages should be limited to promotional, logistical, or academic needs (e.g. linking to the Adobe Acrobat page or to a concert artist's site).
  • No MBU pages may include any form of advertising or sponsorship other than those endorsed by University Communications.
  • MBU pages should not contain confidential University information or student information covered by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) unless approved security measures are in place to restrict unauthorized access.
  • Political content of any type (e.g. denominational, local, state, or federal) is restricted.
  • University Communications reserves the right to remove any material or links without prior notification.

FACULTY WEB PAGES
MBU supports the concept of faculty and department web pages. Each faculty member is encouraged to develop a web presence. Faculty pages should provide information relevant to the individual's role at the University and should support their academic program. All generic restrictions apply to faculty pages. Faculty can link to their own personal web site as long as the linked material does not fall in conflict with the University's mission or purpose.

Divisions are given web space and a single point of access for their faculty to publish online. Divisions are encouraged to designate a single person to manage web updates and assist in faculty web postings.

INSTITUTIONAL WEB PAGES
Many departments/divisions are expected to maintain web content as part of their department functions. A few department pages are maintained by University Communications.

DEPARTMENT WEB PAGES
MBU departments fall into four categories of web publishing:
1. No direct involvement
2. CAMS Enterprise-driven content
3. Content provider using database-driven content
4. Designer department (asp- and html-coded pages)

There are many contributing factors that qualify a department into one of these groups, but ultimately, it is the information and functional integration that gives justification.

For an example, the Admissions web area is a vital to the marketing of the University. Just as University Communications directs the print-published marketing vehicles, it also directs the web-published avenue. But the Admissions department does provide content for the Admission section, so they are a content provider. In the case of the Records department, the majority of the department's function revolves around CAMS and CAMS Enterprise will serve as their online representation.

A department with no direct involvement online would be campus services. While forms may at one point be streamlined through a web interface, there is no discernible need for additional online services. Finally, a designer department example would be the Education Division or Athletics. Both have a central staff member with the responsibility and training to develop web pages specific to the department's extensive web need.

University Communicartions will coordinate department web involvement at all levels of development. Offices that are designer departments are required to have primary full-time staff position to handle their web pages. This does not necessitate a full-time staff member for web design, but rather, a dedicated individual versus distributed responsibilities. It is also recommended that these departments have a backup individual who can assume the responsibilities if the primary contact is not available.

MBU Core Values