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Web Guide updates for UVM Redesign

Go directly to the template guide for more nuts and bolts on template features in the new design.

Or search the web guide for a specific topic:

Introduction: Creating a Web Site at UVM

Welcome to the University of Vermont's Web Guide. Designed to assist the university's Webmasters, this guide offers:

• Web Requirements and Policies
  Guidelines for following the official policies and practices for UVM Web sites.
• General Web Topics and Tools
  A guide to designing a Web site and a reference for a wide assortment of Web tools.
• Template Publishing System
  A guide to easily developing a Web site using the UVM Web Template Publishing system.
• Help
  A list of resources for Web help, training and networking.

Scenarios to Consider

When considering how to create and maintain a university Web site, you first may want to consult the scenarios below. Your decision on which scenario to choose will determine the level of central support you receive and also the amount of skills and resources necessary in order to build and maintain your Web site.

SCENARIO 1

Do you want to:

• Use UVM's common Web design and navigation?
• Receive support from UVM Web Team through online documentation, classes, walk-in office hours and e-mail?
• Network with a growing majority of template users on campus?
• Save time and money on the maintenance of your Web site?
• Concentrate on the content of your Web site instead of worrying about graphic design and technology?
• Ensure that the maintenance of your Web site can be easily transferred to another Webmaster if you leave UVM?
• Avoid extensive redesigns when UVM's Web design changes (as it has almost every 12 to 18 months over the past four years)?
• Maintain your site on UVM's main server (the Zoo server)?

If you answered yes to each of the above questions, then you will want to use UVM's Web Template Publishing System.

SCENARIO 2

Do you want to:

• Use UVM's common Web design and navigation, but ...
• Use your own server?

If you answered yes to both questions, then you will not be able to use UVM's Web Template Publishing System. Instead, you will have to recreate UVM's Web design using UVM's Web style specifications. In addition, in order to remain consistent with UVM's Web design, you will have to rebuild your site and recreate your design and global (university-level) navigation links whenever the main design changes (every 12 to 18 months). In addition, you and any future departmental Webmasters will not have access to the full support provided template users. Thus, your department will need to either employ someone with advanced Web skills or outsource its Web site design and maintenance and, most important, ensure that Web site maintenance is documented.

SCENARIO 3

Do you want to:

• Use your own navigation, and ...
• Perhaps your own server?

If you answered yes to either of these questions, then you will not be able to use UVM's Web Template Publishing System. Instead, you will have to recreate elements of UVM's Web design using UVM's style specifications. In addition, in order to remain consistent with UVM's Web design, you will have to rebuild your site and recreate your design whenever the main UVM design changes (every 12 to 18 months). In addition, you and any future departmental Webmasters will not have access to the full support provided template users. Thus, your department will need to either employ someone with advanced Web skills or outsource its Web site design and maintenance and, most important, ensure that Web site maintenance is documented.

SCENARIO 4

Do you want to:

• Create your own graphic identity separate from the university's identity?
• Use your own navigation, possibly not even linking to the overall UVM Web site?
• Perhaps use your own server?

If you answered yes to the above questions, then you must have good reasons not to follow UVM's Web design and navigation requirements. For instance, you may be building a personal or student organization Web site which, even though it is kept on a UVM server, does not need to follow the design and navigation requirements. Or, you may be building a UVM-approved Web site on the zoo server for an affiliated non-profit organization.

Along with this freedom comes this caveat: You will not receive the support provided the users of the UVM Web Template Publishing System and/or of the UVM Web design and navigation. If you have Web questions, then you may consult the General Web Topics and Tools section of this Web Guide or contact the CIT Helpline.

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Last modified February 18 2008 06:06 PM