Policy for Purdue Pages on the World Wide Web (C-42)

To: Vice Presidents, Chancellors, Deans, Directors, and Heads of Schools, Divisions, Departments and Offices

Re: Policy for Purdue Pages on the World Wide Web

Overview

The Purdue Data Network, through its connection to the Internet computer network, provides Purdue faculty, staff, and students with access to the World Wide Web (WWW) information facility. Throughout the WWW, information is made available in collections of electronic data called pages. Pages are usually organized in sets of individual pages that are linked together. The base page of a set of linked pages is commonly referred to as a home page. Pages are stored and maintained on network-connected computers called web servers. Web servers with network names registered in an official Purdue network domain shall be considered Purdue web servers.

The University recognizes the value of the WWW as a publication and information distribution facility. This policy outlines the responsibilities of individuals and groups affiliated with the University who publish on the WWW, and delimits the University's responsibility for WWW pages published using Purdue's web servers. For the purposes of this policy, any user who creates a WWW page of any type and installs it on a Purdue web server is considered to have published that page.

Application

This policy applies to all users of the WWW resources and facilities at the University and its related foundations and organizations.

General Rules on Information Content

In general, University policies and regulations that apply to the content of publications and communications apply to contents of WWW pages published using Purdue's web servers. In particular, all information included in WWW pages on Purdue web servers must:

• Comply with all laws governing copyrights, intellectual property, libel, and privacy.
• Not violate any policy, rule or regulation of the University.
• Not be used for non-Purdue commercial activities. For the purposes of this policy, activities such as publishing textbooks and other academic works are considered to be Purdue activities.

Official University WWW Pages

A University WWW page is considered official when it is published by the University itself, or a campus, a school, a department, or an official administrative unit of the University.

Official University WWW pages shall be considered University publications. They are the responsibility of the appropriate individual administrative unit and are subject to review by the Office of Publications.

The Office of Publications shall develop publication standards and review procedures for official University WWW pages and shall develop and maintain the official Purdue University home page.

Individual academic and administrative units may develop official University WWW pages and associated official home pages and may install and maintain them on Purdue web servers. Official University WWW pages may include links to WWW pages that are not official University pages.

WWW Pages Published by Faculty, Staff and Students

Faculty, staff, and students may create WWW pages for use in their various academic and administrative duties and activities and may install them on Purdue web servers. The contents of individuals' WWW pages published on Purdue web servers must comply with the General Rules on Information Content stated in this policy.

Individuals' WWW pages are not University publications and the contents of these pages do not necessarily represent the views of the University.

Individual departments and administrative units may define additional conditions for the creation and installation of WWW pages by faculty, staff, and students under their supervision. Any such additional conditions must be consistent with this overall policy but may include more detailed guidelines and, where necessary and appropriate, additional restrictions.

Student Organization WWW Pages

Recognized student organizations may create WWW pages and may install them on a Purdue web server. After verification by a designated member of the Office of the Dean of Students that the student organization is active and officially recognized by the University, a link may be created from an official Purdue home page to the student organization's home page.

Student organization WWW pages are not University publications and their contents do not necessarily represent the views of the University.

The contents of student organization WWW pages must comply with the General Rules on Information Content stated in this policy.

Terms and Conditions of Use

Any person who uses the WWW facilities at Purdue consents to all of the provisions of this policy and agrees to comply with all of its terms and conditions and with all applicable local, state, and federal laws and regulations.

Any user of the WWW whose actions involving the WWW violate this policy, or any other University policy or regulation, may be subject to limitations or elimination of WWW privileges as well as other disciplinary actions.

Responsibility

The Vice President for University Relations and the Director of the Purdue University Computing Center shall be jointly responsible for the implementation and administration of this policy on the West Lafayette campus. They shall resolve issues of interpretation and enforcement of this policy jointly with an appropriate administrative official, a dean in the case of an academic unit or a director in the case of an administrative unit.

On each of Purdue's regional campuses, the Chancellor shall be responsible for implementing and administering this policy.

Steven C. Beering
President