Departmental website content, navigation and
terminology
This guide sets out the standard information and resources to be included
in the websites of departments and centres with students. It is important
that these sites use standard terminology and navigation so that users do
not have to re-learn each site as they encounter it.
Standards
All departmental web pages should conform to:
Navigation and terminology
In order to provide a consistent experience for users, the sites of
departments and centres with students should use the following terminology
for navigation:
Required:
- About us/Department
...link to departmental profile and any other interesting information.
- Staff/People
...links to profiles of staff, research students, etc. (See
Use of central systems for
information on the central content management system for staff
profiles.)
- Contact us
...link to page showing general contact information: departmental postal
address, e-mail address, telephone and fax numbers; ideally you should
use generic e-mail addresses rather than personal ones.
- Current students
...news, resources, handbooks, etc.
- Prospective students
...pages marketing the department to prospective students, links through
to course profiles in the course finder, etc.
- Home
...all pages should have clear links back to the site's home page.
- Research
...information about research activities, interests and groups,
publications, research-related seminars and events, etc.
- Search
...a search form using the University's search engine.
Recommended:
- Apply
...shortcut to information about applying to study within the
department.
- News and Events
...using the central NESSIE system.
It should be noted that use of the above terminology also dictates a
site's structure: there should be a section about the department, one for
current students, etc.
Integration and use of central resources
Where central resources are available these should be used, rather than
duplicating the service on a departmental site. Resources currently
available include:
- NESSIE (the central news and events feed system)
- Staff profiles content management system
- Course finder
- Module directory
- Online postgraduate admissions form
- Online prospectuses
Full details of how to make use of these resources are available at
Use of central systems and resources.
Other things to consider
There is a range of links to other parts of the University website which
would be appropriate for various parts of a departmental site, including
Student Support, REO, visitors and travel information.
Seasonal links should also be allowed to feature, including Clearing and
Freshers.