Hmm.... I think maybe there are two threads here:
1) The main Web site for MSU, www.msu.edu, will indeed be refreshed
early next year.
2) Many departments have asked for a template in order to tailor their
own Web sites to show a family resemblance to www.msu.edu. Obviouosly
with a new site on the way, any such template would take after the new
look. But, as I said, the Web Team is discussing how best to provide
this template.
There is not now a requirement that a departmental Web site adhere to
any particular look and feel, and I don't know of any discussion or
even any notion of making such a requirement. The refreshing of
www.msu.edu doesn't change this.
Nonetheless, many departments realize that there are advantages to
having their Web presence appear to belong to the same institution.
What form a template might take would be an excellent thing to discuss
at the Webmasters meeting, which we are working on scheduling.
By the way, there is a current site providing some guidelines and
standard graphics at:
http://computing.msu.edu/webstyle/index.html
/rich
On 11/29/05, Peter J Murray <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Will departments be required to use this template? Is this also
> addressing accessibility?
>
> Richard Wiggins wrote:
>
> >Yes, it's true: a new www.msu.edu is on the way. The MSU Web Team,
> >which consists of folks from University Relations and from Libraries,
> >Computing & Technology, has been working on a refreshed design for the
> >main MSU Web site. The new design will feature a crisper, more
> >professional look, better main menu choices, and use of CSS
> >throughout. The information architecture of the new site will be
> >largely the same as the current one, but the appearance and other
> >improvements will likely appear to some eyes to be a complete
> >revamping.
> >
> >The Web Team is working on a plan to offer templates. Although they are not an
> >exact replica of the redesigned homepage, they will in fact complement
> >the redesign and readily give you the look and feel of the MSU family.
> >
> >Watch for further announcements. The Web team anticipates a "soft
> >launch" early in 2006 with a time for comments, followed by moving the
> >new site into production. A meeting of MSU Webmasters will be
> >scheduled for December to preview the site, discuss the changes, and
> >answer questions about how departments might wish to tailor their
> >sites.
> >
> >/rich
> >
> >
>
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