Guidelines for BC Web Site Information Providers

The main Boston College Web site, www.bc.edu, is an information resource created and maintained through the shared efforts of many schools, departments, offices and other organizations. This information is generally available to both the campus community and to the worldwide community of the Internet. Since the BC Web site presents the University to many publics, information published on the site must maintain high standards of clarity in content, accuracy and organization.

Representatives of BC organizations who have the ability to place and update information on the BC Web site are called InfoProviders. These are individuals who have been been authorized to maintain an organizational Web site by a vice president, dean or their designated representative. Authorization is given through the Web Access Request Form.

Below are guidelines for the types of information suitable for Boston College Web site and University polices regarding the appropriate use of electronic information.

Why should information be published on the BC Web site?

Information published via the BC Web site...

• can be accessed quickly.
• is accessible seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day.
• can be updated as often as required.
• is available to the Boston College campus community and to a worldwide audience.
• often provides easier access for people with visual or mobility restrictions.
• can often be published and distributed more cheaply and easily than using paper and postage.
• can reduce routine phone calls and e-mail messages to busy offices.

What type of information SHOULD be placed on the BC Web site?

• Many different types of information should be made available to the BC community. In most cases, departments and organizations should examine their printed publications and information sheets, and consider them as potential electronic information resources:
• Handbooks, guides, brochures
• Calendars, events listings, announcements
• Information sheets, documentation, forms
• Frequently asked questions your office receives via telephone calls
• Organizations should also consider creating new electronic resources that have no printed equivalent because it would be impractical to maintain and distribute the information in printed form.
• In order to put information on the Boston College Web site, you MUST have the authority or necessary permission to make the information public.

What type of information SHOULD NOT be placed on the BC Web site?

• Information SHOULD NOT be posted if you have not obtained permission to make the information available. This is especially critical with regard to:
• financial,
• personal,
• confidential, or
• copyrighted information.
• Information should be factual and accurate and not include rumors, "hearsay" or unverified reports.
• Information SHOULD NOT be posted if it:
• violates federal, state or local laws
• is pornographic, obscene, injurious, harassing, or defamatory
• would incite violence or illegal activities.
• You should not post information of a commercial or for-profit nature unless it is related to Boston College and has been properly approved.
• Information advocating a political or partisan position is permitted, but should remain at the level appropriate to academic discourse; it must be respectful of alternative views and should not become electronic "electioneering."

Appropriate and responsible use of electronic information

InfoProviders must comply with existing university standards of conduct, and policies and procedures regarding the appropriate use of the University electronic information network:

• The Boston College Student Guide: Section VI. Policies and Procedures, see especially: Statement of Rights and Responsibilities; Community Standards; Computer Ethics Policy; Harassment Policy; Privacy of Student Records.
• The Boston College Policies and Procedures Manual: Professional Standards and Business Conduct: University Computing, Information and Records Systems: Policy 1-100-010 and 1-100-025
• The Boston College Employee Handbook: Work Environment and Computer Services

Office of Information Technology, updated March 2005