• Introduction
• Main University web site
• Global navigation elements
• University graphics
• Typography
• Color
• Templates and examples
• Interface technology
• Content and maintenance

Minimum standards

The Georgetown University web includes over 100,000 documents in over 600 web sites. A given user may view any of these from any starting point, in any order; they may encounter a single page or many pages from many departments. Therefore, every University web page should contain a header or footer that includes:

• The words Georgetown University, Georgetown University Law Center, or Georgetown University Medical Center, preferably with a link to the appropriate home page as shown.
• The name of the web site that the page belongs to, preferably with a link to the site's home page.
• A title for the page that distinguishes it from other pages and suggests the content of the page. 

Core recommendations

• Search: A link to the main University search page. This may be replaced by a link to a department's custom search page, as long as that page includes a link to the University search page.
• Site index: A link to the main University index of web sites. This may be replaced by a link to a department's custom site index, as long as that page includes a link to the University site index.
• Site map: A link to the main University site map. This may be replaced by a link to a department's local site map, as long as that page includes a link to the University site map.
• Directory: A link to the main University directory and contact page. This may be replaced by a link to a department's contact page, as long as that page includes a link to the University directory page.
• About: A link to main University web site information and policy page. This may be replaced by a link to a department's page, as long as that page includes a link to the University page.

All of these links can easily be accommodated in a simple navigation bar that can blend into nearly any web page design. Examples are provided in the templates section of this style manual.

Extended recommendations

1. A navigation trail or "breadcrumbs" can be used to illustrate the location of a web page within a web site -- for example:

Registrar » Student services » Schedule of classes
Fall 2001 course schedule

A navigation trail such as this one, taken together with the title of the page, clearly shows where the user is located and allows related information to be reached easily.

2. When a department web site is known to be related to other web sites or services that are linked from the main University web site, it is appropriate to include main University web pages in the navigation trail -- for example:

Services & Administration » Technology
University Information Services

3. When a department web site is known to be used heavily by certain audiences, it is appropriate to include links to the home pages for those audiences, or even the full University audience navigation bar. Examples of these bars are provided in the templates section of this style manual.