Web pages must adhere to new rules

The last Texas legislative session resulted in new web publishing rules for state agencies, including universities. The intent of the new rules is to make state web sites more accessible to people with visual impairments, ensure the privacy of people visiting those sites and enhance the ability to search for state web sites.

UNT's Team Web has drafted revisions to the university's Web Publishing Policy (www.unt.edu/irc/policy/webpubrv2.htm) and Web Publishing Guidelines (www.unt.edu/irc/policy/webgdlnsv2.htm). The Information Resources Council will vote on the revisions at its June meeting. Here is a short synopsis of the major changes in web publishing that you'll need to know if you're developing web pages at UNT.

The biggest change to current web practice is the possible elimination of frames on university sites. People with visual impairments use devices called screen readers, which allow them to hear rather than read web sites; frames cause problems with current screen readers. In addition, individuals who publish "document image files," such as Adobe PDF, or portable document format, must either supply a reader that allows complete accessibility to the site or publish another version of the file that works with current screen readers. All images will be required to have "alt" tags, or textual descriptions of the images, so that screen readers can "read" the images out loud.

Maintaining the security of information obtained from visitors to state web sites is the second major issue addressed by the new rules. Starting July 1, state web sites must publish a privacy policy, addressing such issues as how information from visitors is collected and used and who will have access to that information. Although the university will publish a universitywide web site privacy statement, anyone who collects personal information on a state web site web form must provide a link to a privacy statement specific to that form.

Finally, to enhance the content description of pages for web search engines, all state agencies must add four elements – title, description, keywords and author – to any documents that are considered "state publications." Just about anything produced on behalf of the university or with state funds is a state publication, so this rule will have a big impact on most web developers on campus.

Maurice Leatherbury (leatherb@unt.edu) is senior director of academic computing.

Other featured articles in this issue:

• UNT maintains nation's only 'cybercemetery'
• Interim music dean named
• Summer camps supplement budget, recruit students
• Twenty UNT students receive Frank W. Mayborn Scholarships
• Vroom! Speedway events will create heavy traffic
• Employees elected to serve as reps on Staff Council
• New program helps area children explore musical culture
• College radio offers programming flexibility
• National association elects art professor Nancy Berry as distinguished fellow
• Herman Totten will lead library group
• First TAMS class holds reunion
• Faculty Senate elects officers, plans meeting

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