The standards outlined in this section are designed for easy implementation and should not require any major changes in site design or organization. These standards are the minimum necessary to implement the new University identity system in the University’s official web space.

The short-term standards apply to all University web levels discussed above, with the exception of the other web sites level (see Other Pages Within the University Web Space in the section on University Web Levels). These standards are to be implemented within six months of the approval of this policy (by January 1, 2004).

Note: Depending on the structure of a site, it may be easier to implement a long-term standard than to implement its corresponding short-term standard. It is highly recommended that web site developers read through both the short- and long-term standards before making a plan to implement any changes in a site.

Page Title
Page Title is defined as the text set by the HTML <title> tag. For most browser software (Netscape, Internet Explorer, etc.), the Page Title information appears at the very top of the browser window in the window name area. The page title is a critical element in the indexing of a page by search engines.

For the short term, the page title on every page in a site (excepting University of Iowa Health Care sites) must include the text, “The University of Iowa,” preferably at the end of the title text. Several example page titles are included below:

• Department of American Studies – The University of Iowa
• Our Faculty – Department of American Studies – The University of Iowa
• The University of Iowa College of Law

Note: The text must be, “The University of Iowa.” “University of Iowa” is not acceptable.

Note: This standard remains the minimum in the long-term standards below, though a core recommendation also is included.

Note: Because Search Engines and Web browsers will truncate a page title and varrying lengths, it is not necessary to make the text, "The University of Iowa" visible in a browser or Search Engine display. The text need only be in the Page Title, between the <title> </title> tags.

Note: For sites that are part of University of Iowa Health Care (including departments in the Carver College of Medicine), the page title must include the text, “UI Health Care,” in place of, “The University of Iowa.”

Contact Information
Web sites provide an excellent source of information, often answering questions for users more easily than could be accomplished with e-mail or phone calls. At the same time, though, web sites have limits and not every question can be addressed. Because of this, it is of critical importance that a visitor to a University site have the option of contacting a real person.

For the short-term, each page in a site must include a contact link. At the minimum, this link needs to be an e-mail address formatted with the mailto: protocol. Several examples are included below:

• admissions@uiowa.edu
  • Code: <a href=”mailto:admission@uiowa.edu”>
    admissions.uiowa.edu</a>
    
• Questions or Comments: e-mail admissions.uiowa.edu or call 319-335-3847.
  • Code: Questions or Comments: e-mail <a href=”mailto:admissions.uiowa.edu”>
    admissions.uiowa.edu</a> or call 319-335-3847.

Note: The long-term standards for contact information greatly differ from the short-term standard.

University Identity Elements (Logo & Wordmark)
In fall of 2002, the University implemented a new graphic identity system. This system included a new design for the dome logo and the University wordmark, and a new policy clarifying appropriate use of the identity system in external communications from the University. Complementing the work already done for print media, this policy on Web standards provides guidelines for the use of the identity system in University web sites.

For the short term, any use of the old logo or wordmark needs to be replaced with the new logo or wordmark. The size of the elements need not be changed if such a change would require altering other aspects of the site or page layout. However, the relative proportions of the logo and wordmark (height to width) may not be altered, even if the previous version of the logo or wordmark had been distorted to fit.

Versions of the new logo and wordmark are available in the University graphic identity system web site. A PDF of the Identity Manual (covering policy for print materials) also is available at this site. Once the web standards have been formally adopted, they will be added to the manual.

In addition, the old Iowa dome icon is being phased out. The image will be replaced on the www.uiowa.edu server with a new version of the same dimensions that utilizes the new logo. In addition, a second, larger icon will be made available. As the old logo and wordmark are replaced, the older version of the dome icon also must be replaced.

It is highly recommend that the new, larger dome icon be used as soon as possible. The long-term standards for University identity elements eliminate the smaller dome icon.

Note: The University seal may be used in the design of a Web page or Web site, but it cannot be used as a substitute for the logo and wordmark.

Note: The long-term standards concerning the University identity elements are much broader in scope and include guidelines for appropriate use, size, and placement of the logo and wordmark elements.

If you would like assistance making these changes to your site, University Relations would be happy to help. Please e-mail the University webmaster at webmaster@uiowa.edu.

Navigation Elements
For the short term, the only navigation element required is that each page in a site must provide a link to the University home page (http://www.uiowa.edu).

Links to the home page must be easily identifiable. Below are several options for links to the University home page:

• The University wordmark (The University of Iowa graphic)
• Hypertext words: “The University of Iowa”
• The new version of the Iowa Dome icon
• The copyright statement (see below)

Note: The long-term standards for navigation elements are more extensive.

Copyright Statement
On all pages in a site, a copyright statement must be included with the text “The University of Iowa” as a link to the UI home page. The preferred location for the copyright statement is at the bottom of the page. The copyright statement must use the following format:

• Text
  • © The University of Iowa (year). All rights reserved.
    
• Example
  • © The University of Iowa 2003. All rights reserved.
    
• Code
  • &copy; <a href="http://www.uiowa.edu/">The University of Iowa</a> 2003. All rights reserved.

The year must be included with the copyright statement and should be the year of the last material alteration of the site. The exact measure of material changes in a web site is somewhat vague. Minor copy changes (such as updating a faculty list) do not represent a material change. A visual or organizational overhaul of the site, however, does represent material change.

If the site is new and has not had any overhaul, the year should be when the site was first published.