Design Standards
- UA Identification
- Links to Web Site and UA Home Pages
- Ownership Information
- Disclaimer — Official University Web Sites
- Disclaimer — Unofficial University Web Sites
- Currency
- Quality
- Commercial Activity
Minimum Design Standards
The University of Alabama World Wide Web Policy is the official document that governs all Web sites representing the University. It defines minimum requirements that must be adhered to by all UA sites. Other important policy-related material is presented on the Network & Computing Support Policies page.
Visitors to Official University Web Sites must be able to determine at all times that they are visiting a portion of the UA site.
- Minimum Design Standard — Clear identification of The University of Alabama on all top-level pages of each Web site.
- Associated Recommendations — 1) The University nameplate or wordmark is the preferred means of identification. These items are available from the UA Web Images Library. Athletics logos are reserved for use by Intercollegiate Athletics; 2) As an alternative, text may be used, but never a logo-like graphical presentation other than a University nameplate or wordmark; 3) It is acceptable to place a University nameplate or wordmark with another graphic or graphics as long as the nameplate or wordmark is not in any way altered or combined to create or suggest a new logo.
Links to Web Site and UA Home Pages
Visitors to Official University Web Sites must be afforded the convenience of being a click away from accessing the Web site's home page and the main UA gateway (www.ua.edu) with clearly labeled links.
- Minimum Design Standard — Clearly labeled links to the Web site's home page and the UA home page.
- Associated Recommendation — Presenting these links as text is preferred.
Visitors to Official University Web Sites with a question about the content of a Web page must be able to contact the page maintainer and receive a response within a reasonable period of time.
- Minimum Design Standard — A contact e-mail address on each Web page, which may be supplemented with a name and/or telephone number. In unusual cases, a contact name and telephone number may be substituted for a contact e-mail address.
Disclaimer — Official University Web Sites
- Minimum Design Standard — A clearly labeled disclaimer, link to a disclaimer, or link to the official UA disclaimer at www.ua.edu/disclaimer.html displayed on the home page of all Official University Web Sites. The following language is recommended:
"Although the authors of this Web site have made every reasonable effort to be factually accurate, no responsibility is assumed for editorial or clerical errors or error occasioned by honest mistake. All information contained on this Web site is subject to change by the appropriate officials of The University of Alabama without prior notice. Material on this Web site does not serve as a contract between The University of Alabama and any other party."
Disclaimer — Unofficial University Web Sites
- Minimum Design Standard — A clearly labeled disclaimer or link to a disclaimer displayed on the home page of all Unofficial University Web Sites. The following language is recommended:
"The views, opinions, and conclusions expressed in this page are those of the author or organization and not necessarily those of The University of Alabama or its officers and trustees. The content of this page has not been reviewed or approved by the University of Alabama, and the author or organization is solely responsible for its content."
Visitors expect and deserve valid, up-to-date information on our Web pages. A good site maintenance plan encourages return visits and increases the overall effectiveness of the Web site.
- Minimum Design Standard — Frequent review and inclusion of up-to-date information on each Web page.
- Associated Recommendation — Address site maintenance in the conceptualization phase when starting or refurbishing a Web site. Have the necessary resources in place when the site is launched.
Visitors are favorably impressed when our content is presented using editorial standards appropriate for an institute of higher learning.
- Minimum Design Standard — Information presented using high editorial standards regarding spelling, punctuation, style, etc.
- Associated Recommendation — Refer to the UA Editorial Style Manual for assistance.
Recommended Design Standards
Designers are encouraged to employ prominent use of the school colors on their Web pages.
- UA crimson is Web color #990000 (PMS 201 or equivalent: RGB R = 177, G = 0, B = 33; CMYK C = 0, M = 100, Y = 63, K = 29).
- UA "warm grey" is Web color #eeeeee or #cccccc (PMS Warm Grey 9 or equivalent: RGB R = 134, G = 120, B = 102; CMYK C = 0, M = 11, Y = 20, K = 47).
School Nameplates and Wordmarks
Developers are encouraged to employ prominent use of UA nameplate/wordmark graphics on their Web pages. These images are available from the UA Web Images Library.
Commercial activity on UA sites is governed by the University of Alabama World Wide Web Policy. Please see separate Commercial Activity section for more information.