Policy Library
860 University-Related Websites
Authority: Approved by the Board of Trustees
Last updated on: December 15, 2023
Last reviewed on: December 15, 2023
860.1 Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to define a unified web policy that all University and University-affiliated websites shall follow regarding web standards, branding, accessibility, security, maintenance, compliance, and enforcement and to ensure visitors to the Indiana State University web environment will have a consistent visual experience that is easy to navigate, accurate, inclusive and accessible.
860.2 Statement of Policy
Any website associated with Indiana State University using the designations “Indiana State University,” “Indiana State,” “ISU,” “Sycamores,” or other University-associated name, nickname, abbreviation, trademark, or symbol, whether established by an academic or administrative unit, a center, a group or individual, must adhere to the following:
860.2.1 Ownership of the registered website name will be held by Indiana State University, and such registration will be made only by the Offices of Marketing or Information Technology.
860.2.2 Selection of the domain name for the registered website must protect the educational status of the official Indiana State University network.
860.2.3 The primacy of the official Indiana State University website(s) and/or portal(s) must be secured and maintained.
860.2.4 Appropriate hosting, server, bandwidth, and associated content and technical support must be secured and approved in advance by both the University Marketing department and the Office of Information Technology.
860.2.5 Website content must comply with all official University policies, standards, and practices included in the current University Standards, policies on the use of the University seal, logo, and other ISU symbols, and other standards and practices, including those regularly posted on the official Indiana State University websites. The website may not be used to provide or deliver content to non-ISU sites that frame or otherwise juxtapose it with any other material in such a manner as to make it appear the content originated at the other location.
860.3 Roles and Responsibilities
860.3.1 Vice Presidents and Deans are responsible for implementing the requirements of this policy and ensuring organizational buy‐in of its concepts for all functional units, as well as verifying that adequate procedures are in place to ensure web compliance and uniformity.
860.3.2 Website owners are responsible for providing assurance that all website procedures have been socialized among their staff responsible for implementing website changes (“site maintainers”). Website owners overseeing the primary department associated with a website will ensure that development, implementation, and maintenance activities abide by web standards published by the Indiana State University Marketing team, as well as ensuring site maintainers remain current on relevant trainings such as web accessibility and general best practices. Website owners will be responsible for responding to issues that may arise from standards or accessibility findings.
860.3.3 University Marketing and the Office of Information Technology publishes standards and is responsible for periodically assessing websites for potential risk or compliance concerns and reporting those concerns to the appropriate website owner or senior manager.
860.3.4 University Marketing and the Office of Information Technology co-chair a web standards and compliance advisory team that develops new and reviews existing standards and makes recommendations for changes to standards as university needs and technology change.
860.4 Review of Websites; Noncompliance
The Executive Director of Marketing, or designee, will regularly review all websites with names related to Indiana State University for compliance with this policy and procedures. Any websites not in compliance will be notified and dealt with as provided in Policy 860.6 Web Publications. Failure to comply with these policies and procedures may result in action including termination of the website and/or appropriate civil or criminal action against the website developers/providers/owners.
860.5 Exemptions
860.5.1 Where compliance with this policy is not technically possible or may require extraordinary measures due to the nature or intent of the website, or when using emerging technologies, exceptions to University Web Standards may be granted. The exemption process is defined by the web standards and compliance advisory team.
860.6 Review of Publications
The University recognizes the value and potential of publishing on the Internet and so encourages and supports students, staff, and faculty to publish electronic information. Authorized faculty, staff and students may create web pages that are consistent with the University’s mission.
860.6.1 Content of Pages Must Comply with University Standards Regarding Nondiscrimination. Contents of all electronic pages, including their associated links, on University equipment must follow University standards regarding nondiscrimination and should be consistent with the University’s mission.
860.6.2 Compliance with Copyright Laws. Copyright laws apply to electronic publishing as well as to print publishing. Information providers must follow the provisions of the institutional copyright policy and procedures and that of U.S. Copyright Law.
860.6.3 No University Resources for Personal Business or Gain. University resources may not be used to create or display web pages primarily for personal business or personal gain, except as expressly authorized in writing by the University and in accordance with other University policies. Resources may not be used to provide or deliver content to non-ISU sites that frame or otherwise juxtapose it with any other material in such a manner as to make it appear the content originated at the other
860.7 Domain
This applies to all students, faculty, and staff who are eligible to use the Indiana State University network and computing systems.
840.7.1. Ownership. Indiana State University is the owner of the Internet address (IP) space 139.102.1.1 through 139.102.200.254 and 139.102.207.1 through 139.102.254.254, and uses the Internet domain names “indstate.edu and/or indianastate.edu”. ISU has also registered numerous other variants as a protection against the possibility of exploitation of University’s reputation by others.
860.7.2 Restrictions on Registration. ISU Internet (IP) addresses may not be registered for use with any other domain name except as permitted below.
860.7.2.1 Domain Name Service. The Office of Information Technology (OIT) is responsible for implementing Domain Name Service (DNS) for all systems connected to the campus network, and for coordinating this service with other campus units. DNS resolves names and network addresses for network routing to on-campus and off-campus destinations.
860.7.2.2 ISU Domain Names. ISU departments, programs and approved activities are eligible to use indstate.edu and/or indianastate.edu top level domain names upon request to the Office of Communications and Marketing. This request must be from a dean or vice president and will either be approved by the Associate Vice President of Marketing or forwarded to the Vice Provost for Enrollment Management, for further consideration. Requests should be made to the Associate Vice President of Marketing.
860.7.2.3 Top Level Name. To be considered for a top level name, a server would need to be of global interest to the Indiana State University community (e.g. ithelp.indstate.edu).
Related Information
Policy Administrator:
Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic AffairsPolicy Contact:
University MarketingGillum Hall Room 102
(812) 237- 3772
ISU-marketing@mail.indstate.edu