Rutgers Identity
The web is one of the key ways that Rutgers presents itself to the public. In many cases, our webpages form a reader’s first impression about Rutgers. To present a consistent, professional image, it is crucial that all Rutgers webpages clearly establish their relationship with the university.
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The full name of the university—Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey—must appear somewhere on every webpage. For suggestions on using the full name of the university, see the Web Standards.
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The Rutgers logotype must appear in the top left corner of every webpage. For more information on the Rutgers universitywide logotype and signatures, see the Rutgers Visual Identity System website.
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No university trademarks may be altered or manipulated in any way or merged with or placed directly against any other logo.
Required Links & Standards
Campus or Universitywide Homepage Link
One of the two following requirements must be met.
Campus-specific homepage link: The main page of each site must have an easily identifiable link to a Rutgers campus homepage that is appropriate to your unit:
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Universitywide homepage link: The homepages of websites for universitywide units should include a Rutgers logo with the words “Return to RU Main Site” that is linked back to http://www.rutgers.edu.
Search Link
Each site’s main webpage must include a link to Search Rutgers at search.rutgers.edu.
Contact Information or Link
Top-level pages must include complete contact information for the unit (address, phone, fax, and email) or a clearly visible link to that information.
Email Link
Each page must have an email address or a link to the person or group responsible for maintaining the page.
Linking to Non-Rutgers Websites and Pages
When a website or pages have been developed by a non-Rutgers entity, a text credit may be used (for example: This site was created by ABC Company). The university's endorsements and sponsorship policy prohibits the use of live links to external vendors on Rutgers websites and pages. A live link to a non-Rutgers entity is considered an implied endorsement of that entity and is therefore prohibited.
Copyright
All sites must abide by copyright law and respect the intellectual property of others. For details, see the Copyright Information page on the Rutgers University Libraries website. Webpages should display the following: © 20XX, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. All rights reserved. (The HTML character code for the copyright symbol © is: ©).
Information Accuracy and Timeliness
Site information must be accurate and up-to-date. Make sure it is reviewed regularly. Out-of-date names, dates, and other facts do not help users and reflect poorly on you, your department, and the university. All pages must be free of spelling errors. In addition to using a spell-checker, proofread material carefully and have a “second set of eyes” review it, too.
Link Integrity
Make sure that all links are accurate and working. Test each link manually or use a link checker such as Link Checker to test the entire page. Recheck links regularly to make sure they are still operating.
Accessibility
At a minimum, essential information and functions must be available in an alternative form. When you use this option, place a pointer to the alternative means on the top-level page.
Web Application Login Screens
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Passwords and other authentication information should be protected at the same level as the data that they control.
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Any application dealing with standard university passwords (those associated with the NetID, or with accounts on Office of Information Technology administrative or general-access campus systems) must protect transmission of the passwords using secure sockets layer (SSL) or an equivalent technology.
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Applications that capture and transmit “nonpublic” information—such as name, address, social security number (SSN), credit card number, and birth date—should also use SSL.
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Do not use the social security number for authentication. The NetID/Email policy mandates transition away from use of the SSN for authentication. No new applications may be written using the SSN for authentication, and existing applications must be transitioned. While the document states that the NetID must be used, this does not apply to internal departmental applications, where the department has its own usernames. However, even departmental applications may not use the SSN for authentication.
For more information:
Computing Policies and Guidelines
Antivirus Delivery Service
Standards for Management of Computer Systems
