Website Policy

JNU WEBSITE POLICY STATEMENT

JNU Administration is responsible only for the web contents published in the public domain through its official website(s), therefore all website(s) must adhere to the University website guidelines/policy. This policy governs on all the public facing JNU website(s) created using the approved Content Management System (CMS) of the University and any other web contents, which are duly approved by the Competent Authority of the University and to be hosted on the University’s Servers or Central ICT or Cloud Infrastructure etc. furnished by the University.

All website(s) of the University designed for Administration, Academic activities, Facilities/Services, and School/Centre/Department must be created using the approved CMS unless given an exemption by the Competent Authority of the University. All website(s) hosted on JNU Servers or any arranged ICT Infrastructure must adhere to all sections of this policy.

JNU web contents, including its website, must be created in accordance with Government laws, policies, guidelines and JNU standard operating procedures; and must be sustained in a manner that it maintains quality control, manages security risks, optimizes usability, easy access and provides data consistency. This policy defines the terms and conditions for all websites utilizing JNU resources.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this policy is to establish JNU procedures and guidelines for operating and maintaining some high quality web standards, ease to access, secure, compliant with Government of India website guidelines and service-oriented World Wide Web presence of the University.

CIS internal central ICT facility of the University will support and assure development of the University’s webpages along with the coordinated efforts of various Schools/ Centre/ Departments of the University. This Web Policy describes the use of website(s) of the University in accordance with various IT standards and policies of Govt. of India and guidelines of the University.

CIS of JNU is responsible for managing and maintaining the World Wide Web presence of the University, in concurrences of the website committee composed from various departments of JNU and also as advised by CIS Advisory committee of the University.

A Website Committee should also be constituted with the approval of the competent authority in order to manage and address the new issues of websites. It will advise the Competent Authority for changes to the guidelines, if any and help incorporating new operating procedures and functional requirements, and for submitting the technical status reports for the consideration of JNU Competent Authority prior to the implementation of new platform, policies.

DEFINITIONS

RESPONSIBILITIES

Web Content Ownership and Responsibility

Web content ownership and responsibility will be with the Deans, Chairpersons, Directors and HoDs, who are ultimately responsible for all web data and the contents of their respective website(s).

CIS as custodian of Central ICT Infrastructure, Website(s) will ensure secure and smooth access to all internal and external users of the University. CIS will provide overall end to end Website Consultation, CMS Platform Development, Manage Security and ensure availability of Website(s) and Technical Support to the users of website(s).

Exemptions

Requests for any exemption to this policy must be made in writing to the Competent Authority of the University with the proper justification and reason for exemption. If an exemption is not granted by the Competent Authority, then all web contents must adhere to the website policy as defined in the document.

All approved exemptions will be reviewed annually by CIS in consultation with content/data owners. Upon review, the University may or may not renew the further exemption based on the requirement of the users at that moment. If an exemption is not renewed, the websites and web contents must adhere to the requirements outlined in this policy document.

Right to Appeal

Content owners or developers who have their web content removed or modified may appeal the decision in writing to the Competent Authority.

Disclaimer

The University is not responsible for loss of information from computing, misuse, malfunction of computing hardware, malfunction of computing software, or external contamination of data or programs.

Violations/Non-Compliance

The web contents and/or web links found to be in violation of JNU policies or Government rules will be removed at the direction of the Competent Authority of the University after a reasonable attempt is made to identify and inform the content owner.

The following reasons are also grounds for termination after a reasonable attempt is made to identify and inform the content owner:

• Content does not adhere to the University's guidelines/policies.

• Content violates IPR, copyright laws.

• Content is harmful, obscene, offensive, defamatory, threatening or disrupting social harmony.

• Content is designed for personal purpose, or private financial gain or compensation, unless authorized in the University with due approval of the Competent Authority.

• Content is used to intimidate or single out an individual or group for degradation or harassment in violation of Government laws and the University policy.

• Content is used to engage in or solicit any illegal activity in violation of Government laws or official University policy.

• Content is outdated, inaccurate or poorly presented.

• Content appears to be abandoned.

• Content poses a performance problem, privacy issues or security risks.

• Content does not adhere to the University's guidelines.

Content Management System (CMS)

Any website officially representing JNU must be in the approved CMS. The hosting of JNU web pages on non-JNU servers must be approved by the Competent Authority of the University.

Any unit or individual seeking a complete exemption to the CMS must provide a content management plan to the Competent Authority of the University relations that addresses the following:

• Description of the purpose and justification.

• Description of how internal website access is managed and how JNU administration could access the website, if needed.

• Compliance with World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) and JNU website guidelines.

• Description of how the website will not hinder a users’ ability to access web content.

The technical aspects associated with proper website design should be implemented as part of the CMS framework and industry standards, and thus should not be at the discretion of the content manager. This should also include:

• Sitemap implementation

• URL structure

• Coding style

• Browser compatibility

• Many code aspects of SEO (Search Engine Optimizations)

• Visual identity and style

• Most aspects of layout format and elements

PROCEDURES

Web Hosting

JNU website(s) that are required to use the CMS are also required to use predefined template(s) and will be hosted by CIS. The CMS based website(s) should give all users a standard access to the information. CIS only will provide technical support for website(s) using the approved JNU templates in the content management system (CMS). CIS may provide server, storage space to the official websites that do not use JNU templates based on the availability of the infrastructure; however, such website(s) must be independently managed by the respective units.

Web Contents Management and Uploading

• The uploading and changing of the contents of website(s) will be done as per the centralised/decentralised operations management process of the University and in line to the CMS based Role base Access to all system admins and users of the website(s). The request for uploading and changing of web centres will be attempted as per the existing functional structure and workflow of the University. However, publishing/uploading of ‘Awards and Recognition’ related details should be submitted by the individual through the duly filled form available on Intranet.

  • All data related to the projects, research and development will be uploaded and changed after due approvals of the Director, R&D.

  • The details published on the prominent places of main web pages of the website(s) will be archived generally after a week time. However specific and critical details may stay on the main webpages for more than a week and as per the requirement of the administration or instructions from the Government of India from time to time basis.

  • All users’ ids will be created by CIS as per the role base access and privileges to be assigned to the respective users of the departments and accordingly permissions required to run the website in a decentralised manner.

  • CIS will maintain the information available at the landing webpage and main webpage of the University website in accordance with recommendations and approvals of the Website Committee. All changes should be done as per the due approvals.

  • The contents related to the staff, students’ achievements, awards and data related to the students should be verified by the concerned School/ Centre/ Department.

  • This policy is applicable for external links including third party web links, disclaimers, retention of data/contents, News and Media, Social Media and Intranet Portal as per the requirements of the University.

  • This policy will be applicable to all new website requirements for faculty members/program/laboratories/department/students etc.

• The data related with Projects, Thesis and Dissertation should be linked or uploaded on JNU website with approvals of library and concerned data owner of that process.

  • The data related to students’ placement/internship should be published through the website of the concerned School/ Centre/ Department.

  • The new requirement for changes, addition/ deletion, if any for Alumni [Alumni Association of JNU (AAJ) and Alumni Affairs Office (AAO)], JNUSU, JNUTA, Clubs and other JNU associated entities, and related new websites etc. should only be considered after approvals of the Competent Authority.

     

Externally Hosted Web Content

Non-University web contents should not use or replicate the University's templates in a manner that confuses content ownership. The University reserves all rights in its trademarks, service marks, and copyrighted works, and unauthorized use is prohibited.

Accessibility

JNU website(s) must comply with all Government of India Website Guidelines published time to time in this regard.

Web Applications/Databases

Web applications and databases hosted on the JNU website(s) and representing an official communication of the University will adhere to standards referenced in this policy.

Advertising,    Political    and     Commercial    Use,     Endorsements     and     Sponsorship Acknowledgements

JNU policy does not to permit advertising and commercial activities on the JNU website. Use of the JNU website for political purposes and/or private gain is prohibited.

Confidentiality

Maintenance and protection of proprietary information is the responsibility of the disclosing/receiving unit. This includes both proprietary information originated within JNU as well as the third party information provided to JNU under non-disclosure agreements. In addition, individuals are responsible for maintaining confidentiality of research where the development of protectable technology is anticipated, as per the obligations of JNU's Intellectual Property Right (IPR) policy.