Pages must:
Pages must not:
Pages should not:
Student web developers must:
Questions to consider when planning a departmental website:
The audience:
The content:
What do we have to say that’s unique? Interesting? Innovative? Who’s responsible for the content and keeping it current? Usually this will be a number of people, although some departments may choose to make one person the “information provider.” Names of people should not be used without their express consent.
The connections:
How does this site fit in with others at Lawrence? What links can we make between sites? Link to standard, existing LU information rather than creating a new page with the same information. (Note: in the case of Major/Minor requirements, course descriptions, and admissions tearsheets, a server-side include link is required).
The design:
Academic Departments are encouraged to use the standard template to facilitate site navigation. However, if the academic department chooses to develop its own design, consider the following.
Design with the audience in mind (see above). Students might be on a fast computer on campus, but prospectives might be at home with a slow connection. Everyone will see your web pages differently depending on what browser, operating system, monitor…is being used. Test your design on as many combinations of the above as possible.
Be creative but not outlandish: we want to be interesting, exciting even, but we don't want to scare anyone away.
Use images carefully -- we want to see photos of students and faculty in action, but we don't want a page that takes a half-hour to download. Consider using low-resolution thumbnails and links to larger size photos. See the ITS Web Application Developer for help creating internet-ready images with cameras or scanners.
Faculty information: a faculty member may prefer to have the department page link to a personal page, or may prefer to have a page in the departmental area. Some suggestions for content include: teaching interests, research interests, degrees and awards received, some publications, performances, or presentations, office hours (will need to be updated each term), contact info (including active email links), photos, etc.
Please note: While we want to be creative, remember, there is nothing new under the sun. Knowing this, don't let a project collapse under its own weight; the goal is to get good pages up.