Institutional Web Sites

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Institutional Web pages are pages created by any university-related organization. Their content must be consistent with and in support of the VCU mission statement. Each organization's information provider is responsible for assuring that the organization's Web pages meet all VCU policies, procedures and guidelines.

All institutional pages other than "working" pages (i.e. class notes, syllabi, research projects, etc.) or pages designed specifically to provide a source of printed documents must conform to the general design and function standards in addition to the following Web standards observed by the university:

Contents

VCU branding policies for the Web

Sites implementing VCU branding elements must be consistent with and in support of the VCU mission statement.

Certain criteria must be met in order to include the VCU logotype and other branding elements into a domain other than vcu.edu:

  1. The site must provide a marketing advantage to the university and be approved by University Marketing, (804) 828-8814.
  2. The site must meet all other VCU Web Publishing Standards and Guidelines.
  3. The domain must be registered by the department or group it represents, not an individual.
  4. Logo usage and nomenclature must be approved by VCU Creative Services, (804) 828-1463.

University graphic elements

The university's logotype and bar element must be used on all organizational home pages and be visible on the initial load for an 800x600 screen. Instructions and examples for use of the branding elements are available at http://www.identity.vcu.edu/.

University nomenclature

The guidelines for nomenclature are to be followed for references to Virginia Commonwealth University and the VCU Medical Center.

Required content for institutional sites

  1. Organizational home pages must contain a link back to the VCU home page. One of the VCU Web Elements may be used as the anchor for the link to the VCU home page.
  2. All pages must contain a link back to the organization's home page.
  3. All pages must contain a signature block with the following information:
    1. Virginia Commonwealth University (and a link to the VCU home page)
    2. Parent organization (and link to its home page)
    3. Organization or unit responsible for site
    4. Street address*
    5. U.S. mail address (if different from street address)*
    6. Phone*
    7. Email*
    8. Date of the last revision, the expiration date or the revision frequency

* This information can be placed in the signature block or a separate "Contact Us" page that is linked from the signature block.