How to Publish Information on the BC Web Site - WWW.BC.EDU

Q: Who can "publish" information on the BC Web site?
A: Schools, departments, and other Boston College organizations (including student organizations) are invited to share electronic information via the Boston College Web site (WWW.BC.EDU).

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Q:Can I set up a personal Web home page?
A: Yes, but not on WWW.BC.EDU. Students, staff, and faculty can set up personal Web pages on the Boston College Personal Web Server <http://www2.bc.edu>. No paper forms or advance approvals are needed. The account setup process is automated. Just use the link above to go to the Personal Web Server and follow the instructions there. We do not normally set up Web sites on WWW.BC.EDU for individuals -- the BC Web site is only for organization sites.

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Q:What is the process for setting up a new Web site on the BC Web site?
A: The process depends on the type of organization. BC schools, departments, offices, and centers can now build Web sites using a new WebIT application developed at BC to create official University Web sites. Student and alumni organizations are free to build sites using the Web authoring tool of their choice.

Process for BC Schools, Departments, Offices, and Centers

  1. Visit the BC Web Project site for an overview of the new WebIT approach to building official BC Web sites. In particular, read about the Site Development Process.
  2. Contact the New Web Project consultant who is assigned to your vice presidential area. Your project consultant will give you a presentation on how to create or convert a site using WebIT and assist with the process.

Process for Student and Alumni Organizations

  1. Finish reviewing the document you are reading now!
  2. Review the Guidelines for BC Web Site Information Providers (InfoProviders).
  3. Go to the WWW.BC.EDU InfoProvider Agreement, print it, fill it out, have it approved by the proper person for your organization, and return it to the Web Systems Administrator, O'Neill Library 5th Floor #546.
  4. We will create an account(s) for you on WWW.BC.EDU and send you instructions on how to post Web pages (files) on the BC Web server.
  5. Learn how to build a Web site using the Web Development Resources site and the Web Master's Corner site.
See below for more details.

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Q:What forms and documentation do I need?
A:The two primary documents that a BC organization needs to get started are:
Guidelines for BC Web Site Information Providers
This document explains the "dos" and "don'ts" of distributing information via the BC Web site. By signing up to become an InfoProvider you are agreeing to follow these guidelines. Please review these guidelines before you sign up as an InfoProvider.
WWW.BC.EDU InfoProvider Agreement
This is a form that you must print, fill out, sign, and get signed by a Vice President, Dean, or their designated representative. Student organizations get approvals from the ODSD (Office of the Dean for Student Development). We can't set up your account on the server until we have this form on file. Each member of an organization that actively maintains pages on WWW.BC.EDU needs an individual account (accessed with their BC username and PIN). We generally recommend that organization have two or three staff who share Web maintenance tasks so that there is coverage during vacations and absences. Having more than three or four staff working on a Web site can lead to confusion. Please complete one form for each person who will act as an InfoProvider.

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Q:How can I learn to publish information on WWW.BC.EDU and create Web pages?
A: Web teams building new official sites for BC schools, departments, offices, and centers will be given training on how to use WebIT, BC's new Web site management system, as well as Macromedia Dreamweaver as part of their New Web project. Once your site is launched, your can brush up your understanding of the system or teach new members of your organization how to maintain your site using the WebIT Support Site (www.bc.edu/webitsupport).

Student and alumni clubs and organization need to learn how to build a Web site using information available on the Web itself. Our Web Development Resources page provides a starting point on how to learn to build a Web site with links to several HTML tutorials and Web Developer Sites. We recommend Macromedia Dreamweaver as a good commercial site management tool and have documentation on how to configure it to build sites on the BC Web server on the Web Development Resources page. You are free to select other site tools if you prefer.

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Q: Do you offer training workshops?
A: We are providing training on WebIT and some of the basic functions of Dreamweaver to schools, departments and offices building organizational Web sites. We are not offering classroom orientation and training workshops at this time for student or alumni organizations (see information on Web Development Resources page above).

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Q:Can I allow other people in our organization to update our Web pages?
A: Yes! In general we recommend that each organization have two or three InfoProviders who actually edit Web pages. If you have more than three, the management of the site can become complex. If you have only one person and that person is sick, on vacation or away from the office, the Web site can't be changed until they return. Two or three is ideal for most organizations. Please submit one WWW.BC.EDU InfoProvider Agreement for each person. We will then create an account for each of these people.

If you already have your site and need to give a new person the ability to edit your pages, have them fill out an WWW.BC.EDU InfoProvider Agreement and send it to the address on the form. The form should be signed by the VP, Dean or their designated representative for your area. Student InfoProviders being added to student organization Web sites should have their forms approved at the ODSD (Student Development) Office in McElroy Commons. Each InfoProvider should be familiar with the Guidelines for Information Providers.

Note that WWW.BC.EDU accounts are set up with the username and PIN of the InfoProvider. Therefore, multiple people in an organization cannot share a single username and password. Don't share your PIN in order to give another person access! Let us know who needs to have access to your Web site and we will set up accounts as needed.

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Q:What do I do when one of our Web people leaves our organization?
A: When one of the InfoProviders for an organization leaves the organization or the University, please notify us so that we can halt their access to your organization's Web site. To do this the manager of your Web site should send the name and username of the person who should no longer have access to webmaster@bc.edu. Be sure to include the web address for your site.

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Q:How can I request an announcement on the BCInfo page?
A: News and announcements on the BCInfo page are handled by the Office of Public Affairs. Send your request to links@bc.edu. If your announcement should include a link to a web page provided by your organization, be sure to include the full URL of that page. Announcements on the BCInfo page are not accepted from organizations outside of Boston College.

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For further information, contact:
Rosemarie Tagliamonte, Web Systems Administrator
O'Neill Library, 5th Floor, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
Tel: (617) 552-1937 | E-mail: webmaster@bc.edu

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Copyright 2002 - The Trustees of Boston College
URL: http://www.bc.edu/cwis/publish.html
Last Update: March 20, 2002