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Frequently Asked Questions

 

Why is the web standard mandatory?

The University is committed to communicating a clear and consistent identity to external as well as internal audiences. Standardizing our web presence will help us achieve a consistent image for the University and provide a structure to all users that is easy to navigate.

 

Is there a deadline for implementing the University standard web design?

All University websites should  comply with the University web standard by the end of December, 2007.

 

Will any exceptions to the University’s web standards be granted?

Yes.  Exceptions will be considered on an individual case basis.  Inquiries should be directed to the Office of University Communications at webtools@uconn.edu.

 

Will the web standards be modified in the future?

Given the evolving nature of the web, it is reasonable to expect that these standards will be evaluated and updated periodically.  Much consideration will be given to assure that any future changes complement existing web standard compliance guidelines set forth here.

 

How do I convert my website(s) to the University’s standard web design?

There are several ways to have your site converted to the standard web design:

  • Follow the online tutorial, download the template files, and add your content and links to the template.
  • The Web Development Lab at UITS is available on a fee for service basis to help with site conversion, and the UITS design team can create a new site or convert an existing site using the template to implement the web standards.
  • Engage a student worker or intern with web experience to convert the site.

 

What if I have an old version of the template?

If you are already using the template, changing to the latest version is not mandatory. However, the new version has improved CSS and uses DIVs rather than tables for layout. Converting to this tableless version will reduce the size of your site files and improve site accessibility.

 

Can any of the standard web design be customized?

Yes – there are elements of the design which can be customized for your site. These include the optional left-side navigation column; the main content region colors and look and feel; images located in the main content region; site-specific navigation links; and site-specific listings for the jump menu located in the top right of the navigation bar.

For more information about the elements that can and can not be customized, please go to the design tutorial section of this site.

 

Can the logo in the top banner be changed?

No – the banner logo can not be altered or replaced. One of the first steps in using the standard web design template is a handy tool for creating a customized, site-specific banner. The resulting image file will render the name of your site in the standard design banner. The banner generation tool also allows users to create a two-line banner so that the name of your site can appear in conjunction with the name of your school or college.

 

Has the standard web design code been validated and tested in all browsers?

The template pages have been checked using the W3C validator and CSS validator. It has been tested in Internet Explorer 5.5+; Firefox, Opera, and Safari. There is a bug with Internet Explorer 6 and earlier versions of IE regarding the left-hand navigation column, and a conditional statement has been added to the code to make it render properly in these browser versions.

 

Where can I learn more about how to use and correctly customize the templates to implement the standard web design?

In addition to the on-line tutorial found on this website, University Communications and UITS will be offering a series of hands-on workshops on how to use the templates. These sessions will provide a forum for answering questions on the best practices for implementing the standard web design.