GUIDELINES FOR WHAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE ON YOUR UNIX1 WEB PAGE

YSU web site policy guidelines

This is not official University home page policy (which is being drafted) but covers some issues that you need to be aware of when writing web pages hosted at YSU.

  • No YSU logos or indicia (The YSU logo, the University seal, Pete the Penguin, Wordmark, etc) unless authorized under published Marketing and Communications department guidelines.
  • No "adult content". As this server is accessible by people under eighteen, you'll run afoul of federal and/or state laws. This includes banner ads for adult web sites.
  • No illegal content - credit card numbers, etc.
  • No materials that identify others in violation of FERPA, HIPPA or GLB regulations (lists of faculty social security numbers, for example).
  • No software or media (pictures, audio, etc) that you are not authorized (generally or specifically) to distribute. This is regardless of the original cost or purchase price of the item in question, or the copyright status.
  • No advertisements for commercial or political gain. This is considered "misuse of University resources", similar to asking the print phop to run advertisements, or running a business out of your office, using your phone and YSU e-mail address.

Some examples of inappropriate uses under this category are:

  1. advertising to work for pay - for example, consulting, auctioneer, or electrical work
  2. advertising you have a hobby like pottery or basket-weaving and that you're marketing your crafts
  3. advertising that you're running for elected office and posting your platform
  4. advertising that you've written a shareware or commercial program that you offer for download
  5. Under current guidelines, it is OK for a Faculty or Staff member to list the books or articles they've published, but it's not OK to put a link to Amazon to order the book. A link to a publisher's home page is OK.
  • If material is inappropriate on a YSU page by reasons listed above, it is also inappropriate to host it at another site and put a link to it on your web page. This is the policy of the Marketing and Communications department, as it this is still "using University resources."

Revised 8/10/2007 by DMS