About eCommunication Standards

These standards and templates have been developed for University units to provide a consistent, policy-compliant electronic presence in all communications.

These standards will grow and evolve with new and changing technologies. Bookmark this site and check back often.

Basic requirements

All electronic communications must contain one basic element:

• University of Minnesota wordmark*

Other requirements are based on medium and include:

• Copyright information (Web, PowerPoint, video)
• Privacy statement (Web, recommended for e-mail)
• Equal opportunity statement (Web, PowerPoint)
• Date of last revision (Web)
• Contact information (Web, e-mail)

*The text equivalent of the wordmark should be used for text-only e-mail.

Why electronic communication standards matter

Use of electronic templates improves consistency and ensures that our audiences know they are visiting a University of Minnesota Web site, receiving an e-mail from a University of Minnesota unit, looking at a University of Minnesota PowerPoint presentation, watching a video produced by the University of Minnesota, and so on.

While providing a consistent electronic presence, these templates have also been designed to allow flexibility and encourage uniqueness among units throughout the University. The templates are not intended to make communications from all units within the University of Minnesota look alike.

University of Minnesota policies

The various electronic templates help units quickly and easily comply with the University of Minnesota's Publishing Information on the WWW policy and the Including a Privacy Statement on U Web Pages policy.

Policies related to mass e-mail, including when to use a privacy statement, are in development; call University Relations at 612-624-6868 if you have questions.

In addition, templates have been carefully developed in consultation with the University's Computer Accommodations Program to help ensure compliance with the University's Accessibility of Information Technology policy.

The templates also ensure that units include the required information noted above.

Begin with the Web templates

Even if you don't design or code your Web site using all the template elements, you must use the bare minimum—the template header and footer—to reinforce the University of Minnesota identity.

U of M eCommunications system for mass e-mail

Lyris, the U's mass e-mail distribution system, can be used for both internal and external mass e-mailings. See the eCommunications Web site for more information.