Welcome

The World Wide Web guidelines for American University sites are intended to be used for the official university pages only and to bring consistency and similar purpose to AU-related home pages. The overarching strengths of Web pages are flexibility, adaptability, and ease of use. Web pages showcase the creativity of the staff, faculty, and students who develop them. These guidelines exist to ensure that American University's resources are optimized while not restricting creativity and local priorities

Web pages should be developed within the context of the audience they serve. Information is useful only if the needs of the viewer are understood. Potential audiences for AU Web pages include prospective students, enrolled students, alumni, faculty, staff, researchers, other universities, journalists/media, legislators, prospective employers of AU students, parents, and others. These potential audiences can be divided into two categories -- external users and internal users. Web page development includes the consideration of security, copyrights and trademarks, content of information, and purpose of development in light of these user groups

Web pages offer a creative, interactive means of publicizing the strengths of the university and offering services to others. As an interactive "publication," AU Web pages should reinforce the university's visual images and messages

The Director of World Wide Web (WWW) Operations (AU Webmaster) is responsible for monitoring compliance with Web policies and guidelines

Maintained by: webops@american.edu
Last Update: August 28, 2009