The Web is the primary communication vehicle by which College of Design constituents (students, faculty, staff, external audiences) obtain information. As such, its formation and maintenance must be the highest priority for the college and its communication and tech units and the Web team, which includes members of both units. While a number of factors (both internal and external to the college) have admittedly delayed progress on updating the Web, we must move forward or risk alienating our audience. With that said, it needs to be noted that the CDes website will not be "fixed" overnight. In the best of all circumstances, it will likely take the better part of a year to achieve the goal of a comprehensive, cohesive collegiate Web site.

The College of Design Web site will reflect the values of the college:

• It is a current, relevant, dynamic, and accurate source of information
• It features and promotes the scholarship and creativity of our faculty, staff, and students
• It allows for flexibility and creativity of units and individuals, while maintaining a sense of "family"

Creating, establishing, transitioning, and maintaining a new Web site is a huge, daunting task for any college to undertake, but especially so in a college of design where there are many experts with strong opinions. Success will require the contributions and cooperation of many individuals in the college. It will also require the acknowledgement and respect of expertise at all levels in the organization.

Success will be measured in a number of ways:

• Information is readily available to constituents, particularly students
• Navigation is clear, transparent
• Faculty scholarship and student work is featured
• College community members are supportive of the product, having been part of the process of communication and feedback.

Responsibilities must be distributed in order to accomplish the goal:

Dean's council

• The dean's council is responsible for ensuring the consistency and quality of the external messages and media of the college
• Provides leadership for determining a collegiate identity (process, timeline)
• Acts as editorial/decision making board, including communicating a vision, setting direction, establishing priorities, resolving conflicts

Department/School heads

• Communicate department/school needs to the Web team
• Actively participate in leadership council and other meetings on discussions related to the Web
• Identify content providers and approvers within units
• Provide up-to-date information in a timely way

Web team (consists of staff from communications, IT, and database manager)

• The directors of communications and technology are ultimately responsible for the web's content and functioning
• The e-communications and web-tech staff members are responsible for the day-to-day content and operation of the web
• Ensures broad based participation in the process
• Coordinates communication and tech activities
• Communicates process and progress to the college community
• Develops specific policy recommendations
• Determines work flow
• Establishes "to do" list; obtains priority advice from dean's council
• Provides functionality testing

Communications team

• Provides leadership for the design and information architecture of the CDes Web site
• Provides design and specifications for sample 'transition look' templates governed by a Cascading Style Sheet (CSS)
• Provides consistent navigation structure and language
• Ensures graphic qualities of the web and coordinate that with print materials in the college
• Ensures compliance with the requirements of University Relations
• Consults with units on information architecture and site design
• Coordinates and provides guidance to the activities of the content providers and approvers
• Provides Web content support to smaller units without content providers

Tech team

• Provides leadership for ensuring the Web infrastructure is in place and functioning
• Develops and maintains electronic representation (CSS) of communication's designs and style guidelines
• Provides training and technical support to content providers
• Provides Web implementation and production services
• Provides Web-based application development services in conjunction with data manager where necessary

Content providers

• Participate in regular meetings with the Web team, provide feedback and advice
• Follow protocol and established guidelines
• Maintain unit's Web content
• Be aware of activities across the college to promote at the appropriate levels

Content approvers

• Review changes and additions by content providers and approve them for publication on unit Web site
• Participate in meetings, provide feedback and advice
• Follow protocol and established guidelines