Presidential Memo on Web Information and Updates

MEMORANDUM
June 22, 2006

SUBJECT: Web Page Information

TO: Senior Administrative Team, Deans
FR: Ed Richardson
CC: Campus Communicators and Web Administrators

The Auburn University Web page, like Web pages at institutions around the country, is an important, highly visible communications tool among all of our internal and external audiences. We receive thousands of visits per week on the AU home page alone. These visits are not just from students, prospective students, parents, staff, and faculty, but from potential donors, legislators, reporters, and others to whom accurate information is critical, and who are in turn conveying the information they obtain to others.

Consequently, it is critical that information on the pages be up-to-date and accurate. It has come to my attention in recent weeks that sought-after data on some of our pages was used publicly, but was outdated, so did not tell the far more positive story it could have.

It is important that our Web pages be accurate. You can visit http://www.ocm.auburn.edu/styleguide and click on the electronic media link to review our Web standards in full. To insure compliance, the Office of Information Technology or the Office of Communications and Marketing have the authority to pull non-compliant pages from active status.

Because Auburn University has thousands of Web pages, the responsibility for monitoring them cannot logistically be assigned to OCM or OIT: department heads, deans, and, ultimately, senior administrators over each area are responsible for ensuring accurate and up to date Web information about their respective areas. Someone in each area should be assigned the responsibility of reviewing Web information regularly, at least twice per year, and ensuring its accuracy and timeliness.

Please review your Web processes immediately and ensure this protocol is continually being met.

Thank you.