I.  Purpose of Policy

This document is intended for use by Howard University student organizations who are considering using the Howard University Web site hosting services provided by the Information Systems and Services ("ISAS") to access, share, or provide information. The intent of this policy is to maximize the value of the Internet as a means of communicating with the University's internal and external publics.

To the maximum extent possible, this policy does not regulate content beyond what is stated by existing university policies which describe in detail the overall university policies, scope, applicability, responsibilities, and consequences. These policies include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Howard University General Web Policy - http://www.howard.edu/web/policy/
• Howard University Sexual Harassment Policy - http://www.hr.howard.edu/hrm/policy/SexualHarassment.htm
• Howard University Student Code of Conduct - http://www.howard.edu/StudentActivities/Code_of_Conduct.html
• Howard University Code of Ethics and Conduct - http://www.howard.edu/codeofethics.htm
• Howard University Computer and Network Usage Policy
• Howard University Copyright Policy
• Applicable federal, state and local laws

II.  Definitions

See the Howard University General Web Policy - http://www.howard.edu/web/policy/ for important definitions.

III. Free Student Organization Web Site Development

An ALTERNATIVE to generic Web hosting is to have the Office of Student Life & Activities maintain your Web site for you.

This is an excellent option for student organizations who want to only have simple information on their Web site as a reference.

For more information contact Nyla Lyons at 202-806-9687 or nplyons@howard.edu.

IV. Qualifying for Web Site Hosting

In order qualify for Web hosting on the main HU web server, a campus student organization must be officially recognized or chartered by the Office of Student Life & Activities.

Requirements and steps for establishing a chartered organization are available at http://www.howard.edu/currentstudents/studentlifeactivities/StudentActivities/RecognitionProcess.htm.

The list of recognized student organizations is maintained by the Office of Student Life & Activities. A reference for recognized or chartered student organizations is available at http://www.howard.edu/currentstudents/studentlifeactivities/StudentActivities/ActiveStudentOrganizationsandClubs.htm (updated annually).

Student organizations that are no longer listed as an officially recognized or chartered student organization may have their web hosting service terminated or suspended.

V. Requirements and Responsibilities

1. Howard University recognizes the impossibility of reviewing all information published electronically by Howard University student organizations and, therefore, disclaims any responsibility for the content of these unofficial pages. Howard University does reserve the right to review and investigate any page or pages published with the use of Howard University computer and physical resources and enforce these policies with respect to such pages.
2. Faculty advisors and/or the Office of Student Life & Activities must periodically review student organization web sites they have authorized to be hosted on the University network.
3. All Howard University student organization web pages must visibly and legibly display the following disclaimer:
   "The [student organization name] Web site is maintained by faculty and/or students of the Howard University and they are solely responsible for its editorial policy and content. Howard University disclaims all liability for any data, information, or opinions contained in this Web site."
4. All student organizations web pages must include the official name of the organization on the opening page and shall not identify the pages as official pages of Howard University. However, the University's name may appear at the end of the organization's name, as in "ABC Club at Howard University".
5. The use of the official Howard University University graphics, including logos, seals or other identifying marks is prohibited on unofficial pages.
6. Any link from an official Howard University college, school, office, department, etc. Web site to a Howard University student organization must display the following message:
   "The material you are attempting to access is not an official Howard University web site, and is only hosted by the University as a courtesy to student organizations. Howard University disclaims all liability for any data, information, or opinions contained in these unofficial Web pages and the student organization responsible for the web site bears the sole responsibility for obtaining permission when incorporating copyrighted materials into their Web site. Any comments related to the content of personal Web pages or pages of student organization should be directed to the author of the web site. The official Howard University home page is located at http://www.howard.edu/."
   A page is available at http://www.howard.edu/apps/studentorgjump.cfm which will automatically display the message and provide a link to the student organization page.
7. All student organizations web pages must include a phone number and/or e-mail address for the student organization. If applicable, an address should also be included.
8. Any pages discovered to be in violation of Howard University policy or federal, state or local laws may be subject to immediate removal from the network.

VI. Requesting Web Hosting Service

Information about the web hosting services available to student organizations and the form for requesting web site hosting is available at http://www.howard.edu/web/hosting/.

VII. Revisions

Original - November, 2004

VIII. Appeals

Appeals regarding any of the guidelines in this policy may be made to the Main Howard University Webmaster(s) at webmaster@howard.edu or to the Office of University Communications at ouc@howard.edu.