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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 > > > > >