University web site organisation

This paper identifies three levels of pages on the university web server (www.dur.ac.uk). These are:

1. Corporate pages,
2. Service/administration/support function pages, and
3. Departments, Schools, Research Centres and Colleges.

It is helpful to think of the website by these divisions, as our philosophy is to have one unified website, with web pages differentiated by function rather than internal university structure. There are some differences in the appearance of pages in the three levels.  Level 3 pages have more distinctive home page layouts, with a 'home page banner' which incorporates a number of images. Different colour schemes are available. Level 1 and Level 2 pages are simpler, in that they do not have these home page layouts and banners. Different colour schemes are available for Level 1 pages, but all Level 2 pages are based on the University's corporate colours.

Level 1: Corporate pages

These are externally facing pages that provide information on behalf of the whole university.

Examples: International, Undergraduate, Postgraduate, Research, etc

Level 2: Service/administration/support function pages

These include pages that are primarily focussed on internal audiences (such as Procurement, HR, Internal Audit). These pages can also be used to deliver internal functions (such as the online Faculty Handbook, or the online Training Booking System). Sections which produce pages for both an external and internal audience may wish to consider requesting that their pages are based on the 'Level 3' template (see below).

Level 3: Academic Departments, Schools, Research Centres and Colleges

Level 3 pages are primarily for sections of the University with a clear identity (such as academic departments and colleges), and are their primary audience is usually external to the University. Eligibility for level 3 pages is strictly controlled.

Examples: All academic departments, schools and colleges

Design:

• There is a choice of 5 different styles of introductory or ‘home’ page, which allow greater flexibility in terms of the placement of images and items of content than levels 1 and 2.
• There is a greater choice of colours than for Levels 1 and 2 (though colours will be consistent through the pages). However, a colour change can be effected for clear navigational purposes e.g. for a research group sitting within a department.