World-Wide Web Steering Committee

Minutes
August 26, 1999

9 a.m., Sampson House Conference Room

Present: Steve Blodgett, John Enters, Jim Evans, Scott Fuller, Pete Gilbert, Steve Hirby, and Nancy Truesdell.

The purpose of the meeting was to discuss and agree on priorities for the development of Lawrence's Web presence. The chair had distributed the following list of possible priorities via email to the members.

Add e-commerce/secure server capabilities
Bring department Web pages within the template
Complete the information design on which the present site is based
Educate administrative and faculty users about the Web in order to delegate responsibility for maintaining Web pages more broadly
Develop and implement a robust archiving plan for the site
Develop capabilites and procedure to manage images used on the site
Implement Web-based conferencing
Extend the capacity for authentication management beyond current models of host-based login security (e.g., user IDs and PINs for alumni or prospective students)
Revise our policy documents to match current practices
Develop policy and procedure for using our Web cam.

Steve Blodgett noted several other items that have been on the continuing agenda of the commitee:

Develop a process for site analysis and tracking
Develop a process and cycle for maintaining currency of information
Implement the site map or table of contents referred to on the LU home page

It was noted that the list can, in general, be divided into items that reflect either consolidation and completion of the existing site plan or extension of our Web site and services into new areas. Initial discussion favored consolidation and completion before starting new things. Other voices noted that the Web develops rapidly,so that a site not moving into new areas soon loses its appeal -- particularly to prospective students and young alumni, two of our important external audiences.

It was suggested that most if not all of the consolidation items could be grouped together under a site maintenance plan that would focus on

training more people, particularly those in administrative offices, to work on Web pages for their offices

organizing the site images/graphics library so it could be more effectively used

developing a system to assess the currency of time-sensitive Web materials and prompt updates as needed

implementing a plan to archive the site at regular intervals

With regard to breaking new ground, there was consensus regarding the desire to push forward in developing e-commerce capability on our site to support on-line purchase of Lawrence merchandise, payment of application fees, sales of tickets for Lawrence events, Bjorklunden seminar registration, and contributions. There was interest in outsourcing this capability rather than developing it ourselves.

Pete Gilbert explained the history of the acquisition of the Web cam. It was agreed that the committee should discuss possible uses of the camera.

Given that extension of our Web presence into new areas will require collaboration with computer services and, potentially, with the Committee on Instructional Technology, we agreed to pursue a joint meeting with representatives of those groups in the interest of developing a strong working relationship among them. The chair agreed to broach the subject with Mike Corbett and Kathy Isaacson.

We agreed to meet again at 8 a.m. on September 9 in the Sampson House Conference Room to continue the discussion of priorities and to work out topics to be discussed at a joint meeting of our committee, the Committee on Instructional Technology, and computer services representatives.

Respectfully Submitted,

Steve Hirby

World-Wide Web Steering Committee

Minutes August 26, 1999

9 a.m., Sampson House Conference Room

Minutes
August 26, 1999