WEBMASTERS COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES

Tuesday, October 9, 2001

W-1, Anatomy Building

 

Ms. Lenz called the meeting to order at 9:05 a.m.

 

Members Present:            John Chandler, Tom Harmon, Sallie Hilligoss, Jay Kammerzell, Jill Lenz, Mary Pridgen, Erin Napier, Janice Reigel, Carrie Schmer, Patti Sollars, Linda Tarnoff, and Sallie Varner

 

Old Business

 

  

            Email address cleanup was discussed, and one or two uncorrected addresses were noted.  Jill advises that anyone who still has ColdFusion Studio can use the extended Find and Replace function and search for any  “@cvmbs.” This should locate any addresses not updated within a site.  After the addresses are located, they should be replaced with the email address provided in the CSU Directory at http://ds.colostate.edu:1411/dc=colostate,dc=edu

 

            Jill has added a button per Paul Maffey’s request for “Online Giving” to the College home page.  John Chandler suggested adding the button to our flyout menu on the redesign if it will fit the size of the space.  Jill will try to incorporate this.

 

            Dreamweaver software installation - free installation for Webmasters is available, and Jill asked for an update on who has received the installation and who still needs it.  She will try to get these completed in the next week or two.

 

College Home Page Redesign - latest changes include addition of "Biomedical Sciences" layout under "Academic Departments" and "New Departmental Structure" page.  Changes were reviewed and suggestions made for clarifying the old department divisions.  Linda Tarnoff will get in touch with Joe Schwartz for information regarding the completion/target dates to put on the progress chart.   Some committee members expressed concern that our look is rather low-tech, and Mary will investigate. Keep checking links from our Webmaster Committee page at:   http://www.cvmbs.colostate.edu/webmaster

 

            There will be a presentation made to the Executive Committee on the new Redesign and our goals at 3pm, 10/16/01.  Jill invites any interested Web Committee members to attend to support her presentation.  The Redesign Goals are as follows:

 

Remove "mystery meat" navigation from top navigation bar.

 

Make home page content accessible to those with disabilities including a text only version of the College Home Page.

 

Reorganize Main Links with new categories as needed (Computing, Outreach/Service, PRSE) and removal of duplicate listings.

 

Include explanation of College department reorganization during transition period with short-term web page and flyouts updated as needed.

 

Add "On-Line Giving" Link.

 

Add "News" area with links to current press releases.

 

Eliminate all references to "cvmbs" email addresses.

 

Comply with CSU Web Standards and Content Guidelines.

 

Incorporate Cascading Style Sheets for consistent presentation, look and feel.

 

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            A 2nd level page template for webmasters was discussed.  The committee agreed that we would maintain the current policy of having 2nd level pages use standardized Top Banner and Footer formats, with the new flyout menus being an optional feature.  If flyout menus are used, a “text only” version will be necessary for 2nd level pages as well, to meet accessibility standards.  John Chandler suggested that we substitute a hidden “Text Only” link in the Homepage top navigation bar, which a screen reader would find immediately but conventional users would not, to indicate “text only version of homepage” so as not to mislead anyone into thinking all pages linked to from the “Text Only” link would be text only as well.

 

 

New Business

 

            A vote on adding link to 2002 SAVMA Symposium from College Home Page was requested by Tom Allen.  The committee agreed this would be appropriate for our page, as it is a National event which CSU is hosting.  The link will be to: http://www.cvmbs.colostate.edu/scavma/symposium/homepage.htm   John suggested that we spell out whatever it is that SAVMA stands for, so that persons unfamiliar with the organization (like ourselves) will know what the link is for.  Jill noted that it isn’t indicated on their homepage either.  She will also try to arrange the spacing of their logo to relate more directly to the link, as committee members found the logo to be mysterious.

 

Jill reports that Jamie Bethel left the CSU Web Accessibility Committee this spring, and she has replaced him as our college representative.  Jill is also on a sub-committee regarding 508 Standards. Information on their progress is available on the ATRC web page, which is linked to on the CVMBS Webmasters Committee page in the “Accessibility” category.  Particularly useful may be the “Quick Tips for Web Access” found on the “Web Accessibility: Resources and CSU Web Access Guidelines” page of their site.

 

Jill presented a brief demo with Dreamweaver and showed the group some of the features available. 

 

            The meeting was adjourned at 10:00 a.m.  The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, Nov 13, 2001 at 9:00 a.m. in W-1 Anatomy.  

 

Mary Pridgen  10/10/01