University Marketing and Communications

Website Requirements

Michigan Tech web publishers, whether departments or individuals, are responsible for the content of their pages and should become familiar with University policies—as well as applicable federal, state, and local laws.

All Websites

Advertising and Endorsement

Michigan Tech webpages must not link commercial sites that advertise and/or sell products or services. Such links may be construed by visitors as endorsement of those products or services. Michigan Tech webpages may not accept sponsorship from commercial entities in exchange for advertising and/or links to commercial sites.

Specific exceptions may be granted if the commercial link supports the University's purposes, or a University project, and/or provides an essential service to the University community. All links on official Michigan Tech webpages may be subject to a systematic annual review by the University webmaster and University Marketing and Communications (UMC).

Copyrighted and Licensed Resources

Some information and software resources available through the Michigan Tech network are licensed solely for use by the Michigan Tech community. Redistribution of licensed resources to external users is not permitted unless specifically authorized in the license agreement.

Threats or Other Prohibited Uses

Threatening another person is prohibited by University policy. This policy applies to electronic communications including webpages. Also, webpages may not be used to commit fraudulent behavior, misappropriate someone's identity, or incite others to commit illegal acts.

URL Approval

All URLs and subdomains are approved by University Marketing and Communications prior to creation. UMC will

  1. Verify that the requester has a valid claim to the URL
  2. Confirm that no confusion over owner or topic will result from granting the URL
  3. Consider our brand, editorial guide, search engine optimization, and industry standards
  4. Provide alternatives as necessary
  5. For subdomains, confirm there is no competing root URL
    1. A subdomain URL that corresponds to a root URL can still be set up as a vanity URL

No URLs that may confuse our customers or decrease search engine rankings will be approved.

To have a URL or subdomain approved, email your request to webmaster@mtu.edu.

mtu.edu Domain and Subdomains

All Michigan Tech websites on the mtu.edu domain and subdomains, regardless of classification, are required to follow:

and must:

  • Provide contact information. At a minimum, include one of the following:
    1. telephone number
    2. mailing address
    3. email address
  • Link to Michigan Tech's EOE statement in the footer or other global content area.
  • Not include any advertising or links to any third-party website developers.

In addition to University-wide requirements, additional requirements are based on site classification and are outlined below.

Michigan Tech Homepage

The Michigan Tech homepage is managed by University Marketing and Communications and is intended to be a recruiting tool for our target audiences:

  • prospective undergraduate students
  • prospective graduate students
  • prospective faculty and staff
  • current students
  • current faculty and staff
  • alumni
  • donors
  • others

The Michigan Tech homepage must:

  • Display the Michigan Tech logo
  • Provide links to Accessibility, Campus Safety Information, EEO / Non-Discrimination, Emergency Contact Information, Report a Concern, and Student Disclosure
  • Provide contact information: telephone number, fax number, mailing address, and email address
  • Provide a Webmaster link

Tech Forward

Websites related to Tech Forward initiatives may be required by University leadership to be housed in Michigan Tech's Content Management System (CMS).

Departments are required to have one or more CMS liaisons to manage the daily maintenance of their CMS website(s).

Academic Course Information Page

Information regarding academic courses are to be housed within Michigan Tech's Learning Management System (LMS), managed by the Center for Teaching and Learning.

Academic Departments

All academic departments' primary websites are required to be housed in Michigan Tech's Content Management System (CMS).

Departments are required to have one or more CMS liaisons to manage the daily maintenance of their CMS website(s).

Secondary website(s) may be created in the CMS, by using server space provided by central IT, or through an outside organization.

Secondary academic websites are required to:

  • Display the Michigan Tech logo with a link back to the Michigan Tech homepage
  • If the department maintains a directory to student's personal webpages, that directory must display this disclaimer:
    • "You are about to access a webpage that is not a part of Michigan Technological University or the xxx department. Michigan Tech is not responsible, and hereby disclaims all liability for any data, information, or opinions contained in unofficial webpages. Any comments related to the contents of personal websites should be directed to the author of the page."

Administrative Departments

Administrative departments are invited to use Michigan Tech's Content Management System (CMS) to create their primary website. In this case, departments are required to have one or more CMS liaisons to manage the daily maintenance of their CMS website(s).

Administrative departments may also create primary or secondary websites using server space provided by central IT or an outside organization.

These websites are required to:

Conferences / Special Purpose

Groups can create websites for conferences and other special purposes using server space provided by central IT or an outside organization. They can also attach them to existing departmental CMS websites, where appropriate.

These websites are required to:

  • Clearly identify the responsible owner
  • At a minimum, include the footnote "Hosted by Michigan Tech" and link these words back to the Michigan Tech homepage

Faculty / Staff

Faculty and staff can create primary or secondary websites using server space provided by central IT or an outside organization.

These websites are required to:

  • Display the Michigan Tech logo with a link back to the Michigan Tech homepage
  • Comply with the Michigan Tech Conflict of Interest Policy regarding the use of University facilities for material relating to research, consulting, and other professional endeavors
  • Must not be used to support any organizations unrelated to Michigan Tech

Research Center / Institute

Research centers and institutes officially classified by the Vice President for Research Office, are invited to use Michigan Tech's Content Management System (CMS) to create their primary website. These sites are required to have one or more CMS liaisons to manage the daily maintenance of their CMS website(s).

Research centers and institutes may also create primary or secondary websites using server space provided by central IT or an outside organization.

These websites are required to:

  • Display the Michigan Tech logo in the website header; linking back to the Michigan Tech homepage

Research Initiative, Group, or Unit

Research initiatives, groups, and units can request primary or secondary websites to be built in the CMS through their associated CMS liaison or UMC or may use server space provided by central IT or an outside organization.

These websites are required to:

Student Groups and Organizations

Student groups and organizations, including Enterprise teams, can create primary or secondary websites using server space provided by central IT or an outside organization.

These websites are required to:

  • Indicate that the group or organization is affiliated with Michigan Tech through the use of an unmodified Michigan Tech logo or text-based statement linking to the Michigan Tech homepage
  • Clearly state the managing student group or organization

.org and Other Domains

All Michigan Tech affiliated websites not on an mtu.edu domain or subdomain are required to: