A Report to the CTAG Committee

Offered by the Web Presence Subcommittee

James Bearden, Bill Caren, Sue Chichester, Jack Cook,

John Haley, Roxanne Johnston, Ilana Smith, Maryann Stopha

Issues addressed by the Web Subcommittee of CTAG for the 1999-2000 academic year are as follows:

  1. Resources

    1. Web Graphic Assistant

    2. Electronic Image Bank Librarian

    3. Student Web Assistants

  2. Commerce Server

  3. Web Editorial Committee

  4. NYS Mandate on Web Content Accessibility

  5. Copyright and Intellectual Property Rights

  6. Forum for Feedback

Action Requested - The Web Presence Subcommittee asks that the full CTAG Committee accept the following as official CTAG recommendations:

U.S. News and World Report states that 87% of students use the internet as part of their college search. As a "first look" to hundreds of thousands of people, our web site has enormous potential to assist SUNY Geneseo in meeting several of its key institutional priorities, including achieving its undergraduate recruitment targets, enhancing its national image and prestige, influencing policy makers, and increasing private giving. It is a unique public relations and marketing communications tool that can reach external constituents such as prospective students, alumni, donors, policy-makers, media personnel, and the general public through an extensive network of academic, administrative, faculty and student information.  A first-class web presence is critical to our continued success as a premier public liberal arts college.

The growth and impact of the web on communications and services at SUNY Geneseo is tremendous. It is important that we take a coordinated and systematic approach to meeting this demand for services in order for us to maximize the positive impact of our presence through the internet.

As a means of meeting this demand for critical services, CTAG respectfully recommends that the College:

  1. Seek funding for new resources to be allocated to initiate and sustain a major collaborative effort that will result in a first-class web presence for SUNY Geneseo through budget requests for the following positions:
  2. Seek funding for a commerce server product that will interface with Banner to accept credit card payments over the web.
  3. Establish a Web Editorial Committee led by a designated representative from CIT and from College Advancement. This committee would have responsibility for the developing, managing, and promoting of Geneseo’s internet and intranet presence; developing and maintaining standards, including visual identity, editorial, and technical standards, and policies that guide college-wide and departmental sites; and for maintaining the integrity of the system, both in its technological elements and its content, in collaboration with departmental liaisons.

Other Issues:

NYS Mandate: The CTAG Web Presence Subcommittee has discussed the New York State Mandate on Web Content Accessibility and the charge that SUNY Geneseo make web content accessible to people with disabilities. CIT is aware of these guidelines and is making an honest effort to comply.

Copyright and Intellectual Property Rights: The CTAG Web Presence Subcommittee feels that the issue of web copyright and intellectual property rights does not lend itself to immediate policy recommendations and suggests that it be looked at as a separate policy question to generate necessary experience and information to reach a sound conclusion and that Associate Professor Jack Cook chair this important committee, with committee members to include John Haley, Maryann Stopha, legal counsel, and a student representative designated by the Student Association.

Forum for Feedback: The CTAG Web Presence Subcommittee understands the importance of providing a forum for feedback on SUNY Geneseo’s Web and is working together with CIT to meet that need. Suggestions have included developing a survey for faculty, staff, students, parents, etc. to provide an opportunity for public feedback on where our gaps are — what our audience is looking for and not getting, etc. Another suggestion already implemented was to hold "town meetings" with students in the residence halls to get their feedback.