To maintain KU's brand identity, official KU web sites should use consistent terminology. All official  web sites should follow the content guidelines below:
The Internet, web, and email:

• email: Use "email" instead of "e-mail; do not hyphenate; lowercase it except at the start of a sentence.
• homepage: Use as one word; lowercase.
• online: Use as one word; do not hyphen.
• Internet: Capitalize when referring to the Internet.
• World Wide Web: Capitalize when referring to the "World Wide Web" or the "Web".
• webmaster: Use as one word; do not capitalize.
• web site: Use as two words; do not capitalize.
• webcast: Use as one word; do not capitalize
• URL: capitalize. Do not spell out "uniform resource locator".

Content Structure

• This section describes guidelines that should be followed by KU web sites in terms of web site content structure. The guidelines are settled according to the organization type. First set of guideline is for colleges. Second set of guidelines is for academic departments. Then the next set is for KU administrative departments (centers, Units, Offices,…, etc). The forth set of guidelines is for Libraries and the last set is for personal sites. Note that some administrative departments or centers have some academic activities; in this case those departments or centers can use colleges or academic department guidelines in addition to their own guidelines and vise versa. Each guideline mentioned down is categorized as Mandatory [M], Strongly Recommended [S], or Optional [O] as explained in Section 3. The Same methodology used to decide about the web site organization, web page layout is used here.

Colleges

The following are most common guidelines for colleges to maintain their website unified with other colleges sites.

• Introduction,  Welcome Message Page, Dean's Message[M]

This page is usually the Home Page of college site. It may include a brief introduction about the college, a welcome message from college administration to site visitors or to state dean’s message to web site visitors. The length of this page should be in the range of 300 words.

• News, Events and Announcements[S]

This part of website could be used to publish latest news about the college, any events coming on way in the college or announcements that should be posted. Note that this part needs a regular updates to maintain it with up to date information.    

• About US[M]

This part of website should be used to publish information about the college. The information about college could be categorized into the following:

• Vision & Mission[M]

This part is used to state the college mission and vision.

• Objectives & Strategic Plan[M]

This part is used to state the college objectives and strategic plan.

• Organization Structure [O]

This part is used to describe college organization structure. The best practical way would be to present the information in hierarchal chart and then each chart element is linked to proper page in the site. This idea will allow the user to navigate easily in the site according to college organization structure.

• Contact Information [M]

This part is used to publish main contact information of the college. The main contact information should include:

• Telephone Number[M]
• Fax[M]
• Mail Box Address[M]
• Map to the college[O]
• Programs [M]

This part of college website should be used to give brief description about academic programs offered by the college. The programs should be categorized into under and post graduate programs. Another categorization of programs could be based on major and minor programs. The admission requirements of each program could be mentioned here.

• Academic Departments [M]

This part of website should be used to list the academic departments that belong to the college. Each element in the list should be linked to department’s introductory or home page. 

• Supporting Departments, Sections, Centers, Units, Or Offices [M]

This part of website should be used to list the supporting departments, centers, sections, units or any other organization that belong to the college. Each element in the list should be linked to the introductory or home page of the organization. 

• Research [O]

This part of website should be used to describe research activities in the college. It may give summary of papers published through the college every year.

• Faculty Members [M]

This part of website should be used to publish information about faculty members. Listed down are few options that may help be publish this part.

• Title, Name and Position
• Ranks
• Education
• Research Interests
• Official Address
• Staff Members [O]

This part of website should be used to publish information about staff members. Listed down are few options that may help be publish this part.

• Title, Name and Position
• Ranks
• Education
• Official Address
• Students [O]

This part of website should be used to publish any useful information for the students.  This information could be for current or prospective students. This part could be used to mention college facilities offered to the students. Also this part could be used to mention the college honor list on yearly or semester based. Any information about student clubs or organizations could be mentioned here.

• Contacts Directory [M] with searching facilities [S]

This part is used to list the contact information of college faculty and staff members. The essential information should be the following:

• Telephone Number [M]
• Fax [O]
• E-mail [O]
• Mail Box Address [O]
• Location [M]

This part of website will be more power full it is supported by searching facilities within the directory.

• Site Map [S]

This part is used to list a hierarchical visual model of the pages of a Web site. Site maps help users navigate through a Web site that has more than one page by showing the user a diagram of the entire site's contents. Similar to a book's table of contents, the site map makes it easier for a user to find information on a site without having to navigate through the site's many pages. Also, a site map can make it easier for a search engine spider to find all site’s pages.

• Search[M]

This part provides the searching facilities for finding some information in the website content.

• FAQ [O]

This part may used to publish set of frequently asked questions related to college and their answer.

• Quick Links [M]

This part displays set of quick links on college website to link to other pages or websites. The minimal set is as following

• Home Page: This link will point to the home page of college website.
• KU Home: This link will point to http://www.kuniv.edu which represents the official website of Kuwait University.
• Contact Us: This link will point will point to college main contact information page.
• Useful links [O]

This part of website should be used to link to any useful sites on the internet. This part could be categorized into internal and external links.
Internal links point to websites with in the KU domain.
External links points to websites which are out side the boundary of KU domain. Note that when linking to any external website there should be a clear statement that KU is not responsible about the content of this website. And the link should open in a new window.

Academic Departments

The following are most common guidelines for academic department to maintain their website unified with other academic departments sites. The guidelines are gathered after analyzing KU department’s current websites and some well known international universities websites. 

• Introduction,  Welcome Message Page or Department Head's Message[M]

This page is usually the Home Page of department site. It may include a brief introduction about the department, a welcome message from department administration or to state department’s head message to web site visitors. The length of this page should be in the range of 300 words.   

• News, Events and Announcements[S]

This part of website could be used to publish latest news about the academic department, any events coming on way in the department or announcements that should be posted. Note that this part needs a regular updates to maintain it with up to date information.   

• About US[M]

This part of website should be used to publish information about the academic department. The information about department could be categorized into the following:

• Vision & Mission[M]

This part is used to state the department mission and vision.

• Objectives & Strategic Plan[M]

This part is used to state the department objectives and strategic plan.

• Organization Structure [O]

This part is used to describe the academic department organization structure. The best practical way would be to present the information in hierarchal chart and then each chart element is linked to proper page in the site. This idea will allow the user to navigate easily in the site according to college organization structure.

• Contact Information [M]

This part is used to publish main contact information of the department. The main contact information should include:

• Telephone Number[M]
• Fax[M]
• Mail Box Address[M]
• Map to the Department[O]
• Programs [M]

This part of department website should be used to give detailed description about academic programs offered by the department. Here are few hints that may help to publish this part.

• Program Categorization
• The programs could be categorized into under and post graduate programs.
• Another categorization of programs could be based on major and minor programs.
• The admission requirements of each program could be mentioned here.
• The curriculum of each major and minor offered by the department.
• The course description for each course offered by the department.
• Online Courses [S]

This part of department website should be used to publish any information related to online courses offered by the department. It may also include information about partial online courses offered by the department.

• Supporting Departments, Sections, Centers, Units, Or Offices [S]

This part of website should be used to list the supporting departments, centers, sections, units or any other organization that belong to the academic department. Each element in the list should be linked to the introductory or home page of the organization. 

• Research [O]

This part of website should be used to describe research activities in the department. Listed down few hints that may help in publishing this part of the website:

• Categorize Research Groups based on research interests.
• Describe the research projects in the department. This part could be categorized into current and previous projects. Another categorization could be based PhD, Master or under graduate projects.
• Summary of papers published from the department every year.
• Faculty Members [M]

This part of website should be used to publish information about faculty members. Listed down are few options that may help be publish this part.

• Title, Name and Position
• Ranks
• Education
• Research Interests
• Official Address
• Staff Members [O]

This part of website should be used to publish information about staff members. Listed down are few options that may help be publish this part.

• Title, Name and Position
• Ranks
• Education
• Official Address
• Students [O]

This part of website should be used to publish any useful information for the students.  This information could be for current or prospective students. This part could be used to mention department facilities offered to the students. Also this part could be used to mention the department honor list on yearly or semester based. Any information about student clubs or organizations could be mentioned here.

• Contacts Directory [M] with searching facilities [S]

This part is used to list the contact information of department’s faculty and staff members. The essential information should be the following:

• Telephone Number [M]
• Fax [O]
• E-mail [O]
• Mail Box Address [O]
• Location [M]

This part of website will be more power full it is supported by searching facilities within the directory.

• Site Map [S]

This part is used to list a hierarchical visual model of the pages of a Web site. Site maps help users navigate through a Web site that has more than one page by showing the user a diagram of the entire site's contents. Similar to a book's table of contents, the site map makes it easier for a user to find information on a site without having to navigate through the site's many pages. Also, a site map can make it easier for a search engine spider to find all site’s pages.

• Search[M]

This part provides the searching facilities for finding some information in the website content.

• FAQ [O]

This part may used to publish set of frequently asked questions related to the department and their answer.

• Quick Links [M]

This part displays set of quick links on department website to link to other pages or websites. The minimal set is as following

• Home Page: This link will point to the home page of college website.
• KU Home Page: This link will point to http://www.kuniv.edu which represents the official website of Kuwait University.
• College Home Page: This link will point to department’s college link.
• Contact Us: This link will point will point to college main contact information page.

• Useful links [O]

This part of website should be used to link to any useful sites on the internet. This part could be categorized into internal and external links.
Internal links point to websites with in the KU domain.
External links points to websites which are out side the boundary of KU domain. Note that when linking to any external website there should be a clear statement that KU is not responsible about the content of this website. And the link should open in a new window.

Administrative Departments, Supporting Departments, Centers, Units, …., etc

The following are most common guidelines for administrative department to maintain their website unified with other departments sites. The guidelines are gathered after analyzing KU department’s current websites and some well known international universities websites.  Note that some administrative departments or centers have some academic activities, in this case those departments or centers can use colleges or academic department guidelines in addition to their own guidelines. In rest of this section any reference to department means administrative department, supporting department, center, office, units or any organization that belongs to this category.

• Introduction,  Welcome Message Page or Department Head's Message[M]

This page is usually the Home Page of department site. It may include a brief introduction about the department, a welcome message from department administration or to state department’s head message to web site visitors. The length of this page should be in the range of 300 words.   

• News, Events and Announcements[S]

This part of website could be used to publish latest news about the department, any events coming on way in the department or announcements that should be posted. Note that this part needs a regular updates to maintain it with up to date information.   

• About US[M]

This part of website should be used to publish information about the department. The information about department could be categorized into the following:

• Vision & Mission[S]

This part is used to state the department mission and vision.

• Objectives & Strategic Plan[S]

This part is used to state the department objectives and strategic plan.

• Tasks & Responsibilities[O]

This part is used to describe the tasks and responsibilities assigned to the department.

• Offered services[M]

This part is used to describe the services offered by departments to others.

• Organization Structure [O]

This part is used to describe the department organization structure. The best practical way would be to present the information in hierarchal chart and then each chart element is linked to proper page in the site. This idea will allow the user to navigate easily in the site according to college organization structure.

• Contact Information [M]

This part is used to publish main contact information of the department. The main contact information should include:

• Telephone Number[M]
• Fax[M]
• Mail Box Address[M]
• Map to the Department[O]
• Supporting Departments, Sub Departments, Sections, Centers, Units, Or Offices [S]

This part of website should be used to list the supporting departments, centers, sections, units or any other organization that belong to the department. Each element in the list should be linked to the introductory or home page of the organization. 

• Staff Members [O]

This part of website should be used to publish information about staff members. Listed down are few options that may help be publish this part.

• Title, Name and Position
• Ranks
• Education
• Official Address
• Contacts Directory [M] with searching facilities [S]

This part is used to list the contact information of department’s faculty and staff members. The essential information should be the following:

• Telephone Number [M]
• Fax [O]
• E-mail [O]
• Mail Box Address [O]
• Location [M]

This part of website will be more power full it is supported by searching facilities within the directory.

• Site Map [O]

This part is used to list a hierarchical visual model of the pages of a Web site. Site maps help users navigate through a Web site that has more than one page by showing the user a diagram of the entire site's contents. Similar to a book's table of contents, the site map makes it easier for a user to find information on a site without having to navigate through the site's many pages. Also, a site map can make it easier for a search engine spider to find all site’s pages.

• Search[S]

This part provides the searching facilities for finding some information in the website content.

• FAQ [S]

This part may used to publish set of frequently asked questions related to the department and their answer.

• Quick Links [M]

This part displays set of quick links on department website to link to other pages or websites. The minimal set is as following

• Home Page: This link will point to the home page of college website.
• KU Home Page: This link will point to http://www.kuniv.edu which represents the official website of Kuwait University.
• Parent Home Page: This link will point to department’s parent according to the organizational structure.
• Contact Us: This link will point will point to college main contact information page.

• Useful links [S]

This part of website should be used to link to any useful sites on the internet. This part could be categorized into internal and external links.
Internal links point to websites with in the KU domain.
External links points to websites which are out side the boundary of KU domain. Note that when linking to any external website there should be a clear statement that KU is not responsible about the content of this website. And the link should open in a new window.

Libraries

The following are most common guidelines for libraries to maintain their website unified with other KU library sites. The guidelines are gathered after analyzing KU libraries current websites and some well known international universities websites. 

• Introduction, Welcome Message Page or Library’s Head Message [M]

This page is usually the Home Page of library site. It may include a brief introduction about the library ,a welcome message from library administration or library’s head message to web site visitors. The length of this page should be in the range of 300 words.   

• News, Events and Announcements[S]

This part of website could be used to publish latest news about the library, any events coming on way in the library or announcements that should be posted. Note that this part needs a regular updates to maintain it with up to date information.    

• About US[M]

This part of website should be used to publish information about the library. The information about library could be categorized into the following:

• Vision & Mission[S]

This part is used to state the library mission and vision.

• Objectives & Strategic Plan[S]

This part is used to state the library objectives and strategic plan.

• Tasks & Responsibilities[S]

This part is used to describe the tasks and responsibilities assigned to the library.

• Offered Services[M]

This part is used to describe the services offered by library to others.

• Library Hours[M]

This part is used to state the library working hours through the academic year.

• Instruction and rules[S]

This part is used to publish the instruction and rules related to the library issues.

• Organization Structure [O]

This part is used to describe the library organization structure. The best practical way would be to present the information in hierarchal chart and then each chart element is linked to proper page in the site. This idea will allow the user to navigate easily in the site according to library organization structure.

• Contact Information [M]

This part is used to publish main contact information of the library. The main contact information should include:

• Telephone Number[M]
• Fax[M]
• Mail Box Address[M]
• Map to the Library[O]
• Resources[S]

This part of website publishes information about library resources. The library resources could be categorized into books, journals, publications. …, etc. This part of website will be more power full it is supported by the following:

• Resource search engine.
• Show weather resource is available or not.
• Resource using or hiring conditions.
• Reservation mechanism.
• Supporting Departments, Sub Departments, Sections, Centers, Units, Or Offices [O]

This part of website should be used to list the supporting departments, centers, sections, units or any other organization that belong to the library. Each element in the list should be linked to the introductory or home page of the organization. 

• Staff Members [S]

This part of website should be used to publish information about staff members. Listed down are few options that may help be publish this part.

• Title, Name and Position
• Ranks
• Education
• Official Address
• Contacts Directory [M] with searching facilities [S]

This part is used to list the contact information of library’s faculty and staff members. The essential information should be the following:

• Telephone Number [M]
• Fax [O]
• E-mail [O]
• Mail Box Address [O]
• Location [M]

This part of website will be more power full it is supported by searching facilities within the directory.

• Site Map [O]

This part is used to list a hierarchical visual model of the pages of a Web site. Site maps help users navigate through a Web site that has more than one page by showing the user a diagram of the entire site's contents. Similar to a book's table of contents, the site map makes it easier for a user to find information on a site without having to navigate through the site's many pages. Also, a site map can make it easier for a search engine spider to find all site’s pages.

• FAQ [S]

This part may used to publish set of frequently asked questions related to the library issues and their answer.

• Search[S]

This part provides the searching facilities for finding some information in the website content.

• Quick Links [M]

This part displays set of quick links on library website to link to other pages or websites. The minimal set is as following

• Home Page: This link will point to the home page of library website.
• KU Home Page: This link will point to http://www.kuniv.edu which represents the official website of Kuwait University.
• Parent Home Page: This link will point to library’s parent according to the organizational structure.
• Contact Us: This link will point will point to library main contact information page.
• Useful links [S]

This part of website should be used to link to any useful sites on the internet. This part could be categorized into internal and external links.
Internal links point to websites with in the KU domain.
External links points to websites which are out side the boundary of KU domain. Note that when linking to any external website there should be a clear statement that KU is not responsible about the content of this website. And the link should open in a new window.