University of New Hampshire
World Wide Web Resources Policy

I. PURPOSE

To define the University's policy for students, faculty and staff concerning the use of the University's World Wide Web information resources.

II. INTRODUCTION

The University of New Hampshire, in support of academic freedom encourages free expression and an open environment for the pursuit of knowledge. However, the contents of all Web pages under University jurisdiction must comply with local, state and federal laws and University of New Hampshire policies, rules and regulations. The service to students and community of the University of New Hampshire is determined, in part, by the quality of information it publishes electronically. A set of minimum standards and guidelines for Web sites of University of New Hampshire units is necessary to maintain the accuracy, consistency and integrity of such sites.

III. REFERENCES

Acceptable Use Policy for Information Technology Resources: www.unh.edu/cis/aup.html

University Copyright Policy: www.unh.edu/cis/dmca and/or www.printing.unh.edu/copyright.html

University Speech Policy: usnh.unh.edu/OLPM/USY/V.Pers/D.8.html

Code of Student Rights, Rules, and Responsibilities: www.unh.edu/student/rights/

Code of Faculty Rights and Responsibilities: usnhbot.unh.edu/

Graphic Identity Guidelines: www.unh.edu/publications/identity/

IV. DEFINITIONS

The following definitions will be used to clarify the differences that exist between the Official University Content vs. General/Non-UNH Content/Information

  1. Web Site is a collection of Web pages, or collection of related Web sites, that has a coherent purpose and is managed by one person or group. A Web page is a unit of information delivered to a user in a format intended for display in a Web browser or Web appliance.
  2. Institutional Web sites and pages are those published by organizational units that present the University's official academic, research and/or administrative programs. Such pages are sponsored and sanctioned by the appropriate University unit. The physical location or ownership of the Web server(s) from which such pages are served does not alter their status as official pages.
  3. Individual Academic Web site is any site or page, outside the scope of Institutional sites and pages, created by or for a faculty member, professional staff member or other staff member to present or support the teaching, research or professional activities of that individual.
  4. Non-institutional Web sites and pages are those hosted on a Web server owned or contracted by the University but outside the defined scope of institutional or academic Web sites. Such non-institutional University sites include but are not limited to personal Web pages of University faculty, staff, and students; Web sites of non-University organizations hosted by the University as a courtesy or service; Web pages of student organizations recognized by UNH, and academic Web sites and pages.
  5. Web Home Page is any Web page that serves as the primary, table of contents, or designated entry point for a Web site.
  6. Web Site Owner is any person or organizational unit serving as the primary provider or publisher of a Web site.
V. SCOPE
  1. These policies apply to all members of the University of New Hampshire community, and govern all networked World Wide Web storage and communications systems utilizing University networks or name space, regardless of ownership, whether individually controlled or shared.
  2. Organizational units have broad discretion in establishing additional reasonable and appropriate "conditions of use" for Web information resources under their control. Such policies shall be consistent with these policies although they may provide more detail, guidelines, and/or restrictions. Such policies supplement these policies but do not supercede or replace it.
VI. POLICIES

A. Non-institutional Web Sites and Pages

1. The site owner is solely responsible for the content of non-institutional Web sites. The views, opinions, and conclusions expressed on such pages are those of the site owner and not necessarily those of the University of New Hampshire; however, the University reserves the right to remove from any University Web server any page that is found to be in violation of the law or University policies. Such decisions will be made by the Webmaster, consistent with guidelines and subject to review by the Web Advisory Committee.

2. University of New Hampshire resources may not be used to create Web pages used for personal business or personal commercial gain nor may they be used for political or public purposes not sanctioned by the institution. For purposes of this policy, political or public purposes include 1) express or implied institutional support for any political candidate or ballot initiative, 2) lobbying, 3) organized external informational campaigns related to public debates involving federal, state, or local governments. Note: External consulting carried out by faculty, consistent with University policy, is considered a legitimate professional endeavor and not prohibited under this policy.

3. Academic Freedom. Freedom of speech on academic Web pages is governed by the University Speech Policies and Code of Faculty Rights and Responsibilities.

4. Disclaimer and contact information. The home page of a Non-institutional University Web site must include:

a. a link to the University of New Hampshire Web Disclaimer. b. the name of the site owner or Webmaster, or other ownership contacts information, so that responses to those pages can be directed to the appropriate individual(s).
5. Use of University Name, Seal, or Trademarks. The University of New Hampshire has an established licensing program to control the use of the name, symbols, emblems, logos, and mascots associated with the University. Unauthorized use of any such representations may be trademark infringement in violation of state and federal laws. Faculty and staff are authorized to use the University's logos and name for non-commercial purposes on their non-institutional Web pages to indicate their formal affiliation with the University. All other uses on non-institutional Web pages of the symbols, emblems, logos and mascots associated with the University are authorized only with the approval of the Web Advisory Committee (see C.5). Any commercial use of the names, symbols, emblems, logos and mascots associated with the University is prohibited unless an appropriate license is obtained from the University or its authorized agent. See Graphic Identity Guidelines.

6. Non-institutional Web sites are subject to the copyright provisions set forth in section B6 of this policy.

7. Non-institutional Web sites and pages may not contain commercial speech. Refer to section IV.B.6.

B. Institutional and Academic Sites and Pages

1. Copyright. Contents of all University Web pages are subject to University of New Hampshire copyright standards covered in the University's Copyright Policy at www.unh.edu/cis/dmca and/or www.printing.unh.edu/copyright.html.
a. Title II of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), 17 U.S.C. § 512, limits the liability of Internet Service Providers ("ISP") for certain infringements. The University of New Hampshire is an ISP for its own community of students, faculty and staff, and for some other nonprofit state agencies and organizations.
(1) Designated Agent. As an ISP, the University has designated an agent to receive notices from copyright owners alleging infringements. Contact information for this agent is available on the University Webmaster Resources page and the University Web Disclaimer page.

(2) Repeat infringers. The University will terminate the service of any user who repeatedly infringes the rights of copyright owners.

(3) Take-down and notice procedures. If the University receives an infringement notice that substantially conforms to the requirements of the DMCA, the University's Designated Agent will make efforts to notify the Web Site Owner of the allegation of infringement and secure voluntary take-down of the work, or disable access to the work. Upon receipt of such notice or take-down, the Web Site Owner may file a counter-notification to the University that complies with the requirements of the DMCA.

Consistent with the provisions of the DMCA, the University will not be liable to the owner of the page for any harm he or she might suffer because of the University's action in disabling access to a page so long as it: (a) takes reasonable steps to notify the Web Site Owner about the allegations in a confirming notice that the University has received;

(b) promptly sends a copy of any substantially confirming counter-notice that the University has received;

(c) restores access to the allegedly infringing work within 10 to 14 business days after the day it receives counter-notice, unless it first receives a notice from the complaining party that he or she has filed an action seeking a court order to restrain the Web Site Owner from further copyright infringement.

2. Accessibility. The University of New Hampshire is committed to the principle of universal access to official information and requires Web page design for accessibility to audiences using alternate communication channels (e.g., text-to-speech or text-to-Braille browsers). Resources for designing and validating accessible Web pages are available through links on the University Webmasters Resources site. The University, [along with UNH-System], endorses the Guidelines of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) as the standard for World Wide Web accessibility and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. W3C is composed of over 400 member organizations world-wide (public and private) developing common protocols to promote the evolution of the World Wide Web and ensure its inter-operability. As part of its work, the W3C has developed accessibility guidelines for World Wide Web sites and pages. The standards of the Federal Rehabilitation Act (Section 508) are consistent with the W3C Guidelines and provide achievable, well documented guidelines for implementation.

a. ADA Notice and Alternative Delivery: If Web page accessibility for an Institutional University Web site is not feasible, then it is encouraged that alternate methods must be made available for access to the non-accessible Web page content. Institutional University Web sites containing non-accessible pages should on their home page, in a prominent location, place the following notice:

"In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the information in this site is available in alternate formats upon request."

Students with disabilities may request reasonable accommodations for access to materials on academic Web pages required for a University of New Hampshire course in which they are registered. Reasonable prior notice needs to be given to the instructor and to the Access Office (www.unh.edu/access/) in order to establish the existence of a disability and/or to determine reasonable accommodation for access to required Web-based course materials. Similar access is available for faculty and staff; contact the Affirmative Action Office (www.unh.edu/affirmative-action/).

3. Disclaimers. Institutional Web sites must include, in a prominent location, a link to the University of New Hampshire Web Disclaimer. The URL of the disclaimer is available through the University Webmaster Resources site.

4. Use of University Name, Seal, or Trademarks. Organizational units may use, on Institutional Web sites, the authorized logos, trademarks, and wordmarks of the University of New Hampshire.

5. Privacy policy: Site visitors do not have to routinely provide personal information to visit University Web sites or to download information.

a. Institutional sites may request personally identifiable information in order to provide requested services if:
(1) That information is necessary to the requested service;

(2) a privacy policy statement is provided which describes how the collected information will be used;

(3) the privacy policy, or a link to it, is prominently displayed on the Web page requesting the information;

(4) the collection and use of the information complies with the Faculty Rights, Student Rights, Rules and Responsibilities and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and its implementing regulations; and

(5) Transaction and storage security is provided for protected information. Such security is subject to review or audit by the Web Advisory Committee.

E-mail addresses obtained as a result of a request to a University Web site will not be sold or given to private companies or other organizations for marketing purposes.
6. Commercial Use
University of New Hampshire resources may not be used to create Web pages used for personal business or personal commercial gain nor may they be used for political or public purposes not sanctioned by the institution. For purposes of this policy, political or public purposes include 1) express or implied institutional support for any political candidate or ballot initiative, 2) lobbying, 3) organized external informational campaigns related to public debates involving federal, state, or local governments. Note: External consulting carried out by faculty, consistent with University policy, is considered a legitimate professional endeavor and not prohibited under this policy.

C. Webmaster Roles and Responsibilities

1. Webmasters are encouraged to monitor the accuracy and timeliness of information presented in University Web sites under their control.

2. The Webmaster's cognizant supervisor is responsible for ensuring Webmaster compliance with this policy.

3. The University Webmaster and the Webmaster's associated Web development team are responsible for the management of the University's Web site in support of the University's mission.

4. The University Webmaster and Web development team will be advised by the Web Advisory Committee whose members are appointed by the President of the University.

5. It is the responsibility of the Web Advisory Committee to formulate a strategic plan for the development of University Web services, to advise and support the University Webmaster and Web development team, and to provide Web design and construction resources for Webmasters such as image archives, templates, design guides and support forums.

D. Design Standards

1. The University does not mandate a single "look and feel" for University Web pages. While adhering to the design guidelines below, organizational units have control of the appearance and content of their Web pages. The set of minimum guidelines outlined below is to ensure that Institutional University Web pages integrate with the University's home page and with the University's other means of communication.

2. Institutional Web site home pages must include the following:

a. UNH word mark and logo (see Graphic Identity Guidelines).

b. Use of PMS 288 (UNH Blue) with word mark and logo; displayed in PMS 288 or white on a 288 field; or reversed out of a background image. University wordmark and logo may also be used in black.

c. Standard links. A common set of links must be displayed on each page. Example: UNH HOME | Search | Contact | Disclaimer

d. Page owner information must be displayed. Example: This page is maintained by Computing & Information Services, University of New Hampshire..... Web site questions to webmaster.hd@unh.edu (last updated)

e. Page location identifier. Users should always be able to determine where they are. Example: department name should always appear in the same position on each of the sites' content pages.

f. Local search engine so user can do a quick search of the department site.

g. ADA symbol should be displayed where appropriate (Bobby Approved).