The web team recently reorganized the web standards to make them a more effective resource that better reflects current processes. The updated standards were approved by the Web Steering Committee on Sept. 16, 2024.
The standards are now divided into a general introduction applicable to all users and three protocol sections, one for each user role. We’ve also adjusted the names of the user roles to more accurately reflect their functions:
- Coordinators are still called coordinators.
- Contributors are now called managers.
- Managers are now called administrators.
We edited text throughout the standards for clarity and conciseness.
Summary of Changes
Introduction and Purpose
We edited the information in sections 1 Introduction and Purpose, 2 NIU Branding and 3 Compliance and incorporated it into the Introduction and Purpose section of the updated standards.
The updated Introduction and Purpose section also includes the following information that is new, has been significantly edited or was moved here from another area of the standards:
- 4.1 Web Liaison Roles: detailed descriptions of the renamed user roles
- 5 Mobile Apps: mobile app information from 6 Web Communication Tools
- 6.1 Key Privacy Guidelines: a more user-friendly presentation of privacy information in the form a bulleted list
- 7.2 Blogs and News Sites: simplified news site information from 5 Web Content Standards
- 7.3 Analytics: analytics information from 6 Web Communication Tools
- 8 Glossary: definitions of key web terminology
Protocol for Coordinators
The new Web Content Management Protocol for Coordinators section contains detailed guidance for coordinators. The C10 Key Responsibilities section outlines expectations for the role, provides a calendar for content management and explains how to request web updates in Freshdesk.
The information in this section was taken from different areas of the former standards and has been reorganized and simplified:
- C11 General Content Guidelines came from 4 Editorial Guidelines and 5 Web Content Standards.
- C12 Webpage/Site Templates and Options and C13 Content Types and Best Practices came from 5 Web Content Standards.
- C13.5 Social Media came from 6 Web Communications Tools.
We didn’t include details from sections 4 and 5 of the former standards that weren’t relevant to coordinators. For example, we didn’t include information from 5.3 Navigation and Contact Blocks, since the web team creates/updates these for coordinators.
Protocol for Managers
The new Web Content Management Protocol for Managers section contains guidance for managers (formerly called contributors). The M10 Key Responsibilities section outlines expectations for managers. It also provides a calendar for content management and explains how to make web updates in Cascade using a workflow process.
The information in the manager protocol section came from various areas of the former standards and has been reorganized and simplified:
- M11 General Content Guidelines and M12 Website Structure and Conventions came from 5 Web Content Standards.
- M13 Editing and Formatting Text came from 4 Editorial Guidelines and 5 Web Content Standards.
- M14 Webpage/Site Templates and Options and M15 Content Types and Best Practices came from 5 Web Content Standards.
- M15.5 Social Media came from 6 Web Communications Tools.
Protocol for Administrators
The new Web Content Management Protocol for Administrators section contains guidance for administrators (formerly called managers). The A10 Key Responsibilities section outlines expectations for the role and provides a content management calendar. It also describes how to make updates in Cascade.
This information in this section was taken from different areas of the former standards, reorganized and simplified:
- A11 General Content Guidelines and A12 Website Structure and Conventions came from 5 Web Content Standards.
- A13 Editing and Formatting Text came from 4 Editorial Guidelines and 5 Web Content Standards.
- A14 Webpage/Site Templates and Options and A15 Content Types and Best Practices came from 5 Web Content Standards.
- A15.5 Social Media came from 6 Web Communications Tools.
