U-M Internet Publishing Policies, Guidelines, & Instructions

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U-M Gateway (the “institutional homepage”)

The U-M Gateway is the official Internet site ("homepage") for the institution. The Gateway’s primary objectives are to provide:

  • A point of entry for the University community and the broader Internet community to the University's officially recognized information resources.
  • A mechanism for campus information providers to register, describe, and make accessible digital information resources, and
  • A mechanism for users to locate and navigate among resources available to the U-M campus.

This page contains the following sections:

4.1 Definition of Resources Appropriate for Linkage to the U-M-Gateway

Several principles underlie the University's policies regarding publication on the Internet. The University upholds an individual's constitutional right to freedom of speech (Standard Practice Guide 601.01). The University also recognizes that information/publications created by units and individuals acting in an official capacity are representative of the University to the greater academic and public community. Therefore, an effort has been made to maintain this balance of good stewardship of institutional assets and individual freedom of expression in policies governing publishing on the Internet.

The U-M-Gateway provides a framework and mechanisms for structured retrieval of officially authorized information resources of the institution. Publications and other information resources created by an official unit or other recognized organization of the University or an individual-created information resource which is sponsored by an official unit or registered organization are authorized for inclusion in the U-M-Gateway environment. Organizations which are registered with the Michigan Student Assembly are recognized as U-M official organizations.

The Gateway does not provide direct linkages to individual personal home pages.

4.2 Registration of Gateway Resources

Inclusion (i.e., linkage) of appropriate information resources within the U-M-Gateway environment is accomplished through a centrally managed registry of authorized information resources. The registry database provides descriptive information about the information resource, including information about the management of the resource and other descriptive attributes to aid in information retrieval.

The bullets below depict which resources are appropriate to be linked to and registered in the U-M-Gateway. These categories of information resources are defined as follows:

  • Information authorized for U-M-Gateway linkage:
    • Official information resources of the University's central and unit administrations—e.g., policies, official documents and procedures.
    • Unit-sponsored resources (whether created by an individual or by a unit)—e.g., a departmental homepage or a faculty member's collection of working papers which is sponsored by his/her unit or a department's official homepage.
    • Information resources which are sponsored by an officially recognized organization on campus. Student organizations registered with the Michigan Student Assembly are authorized.
  • UMICH.EDU resources which would not be linked to the U-M-Gateway:
    • Unsponsored personal resources—e.g., a personal homepage for which a unit has not accepted responsibility.
  • Non-U-M resources: i.e., information resources which originate from a non-University Internet host will not be linked directly with the U-M-Gateway. Units may, however, take responsibility for establishing linkage between these resources and unit-sponsored resources.

In order to verify University affiliation and organizational endorsement of information resources linked to the U-M-Gateway, information providers will be asked to supply a valid University account number as a part of the registration form for information resources.

4.3 U-M Gateway Management

The U-M Gateway service is managed by a joint team of individuals from the Office of the Provost, the Vice President for Communications, and ITS. Questions about the U-M Gateway or related policies can be directed to um-gateway@umich.edu. The team bears responsibility for reviewing officially registered resources and taking necessary action to ensure compliance with institutional policies related to the Gateway.

4.4 Responsibilities of Information Providers

U-M Gateway information providers represent the University and are responsible for the pages they publish, and the direct links they maintain to other resources. Providers are expected to abide by the highest standards of quality and responsibility. Information providers are responsible for ensuring that content disseminated through a registered resource or the direct links from that resource comply with University policies and state and federal laws. Providers are expected to comply with all laws regarding copyright and intellectual property.

Although the goal of the University's Gateway policy is to ensure that information is reliable, accessible, and authoritative, the University cannot guarantee the complete accuracy and dependability of all information resources.

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