Information Technology Committees

Guidelines and procedures for reviewing and updating the Department of Biology website.

Procedures:

1. As the need arises, content that varies over the course of the year (seminars speakers, unplanned presentations, addition of new staff, awards, etc) will be updated by designated staff in cooperation with the department webmaster.

2. On an annual basis, the entire web site will be reviewed and updated.   The annual review will require the participation of every member of the Department of Biology. The IT committee will manage the annual review initiated in January. 

IT committee: The IT committee will initiate the annual review process by soliciting comments and suggestions from faculty and staff.  The IT committee will request that each member of the department review their personal sites as well as any other content where they have a responsibility. The IT committee will coordinate any major changes to the content or organization of the website.

Web master:  The webmaster will be responsible for (i) day to day management of the web site, (ii) ensuring the website complies with Dalhousie’s standard for website design and consent, (iii) liaising with Dalhousie Communication & Marketing regarding design standards and content of faculty/student profiles and information for prospective students, (iv) working with all faculty and staff to implement updates as the need arises, (v) attend meetings associated with the web site, (vi) offer training to faculty and office staff that have direct responsibility for updating variable content, (vi) offer support service to those faculty and office staff that have direct responsibility for updating variable content, (vii) work with faculty who wish to implement new web-based content for courses, committees or programs, and (viii) take lead role in implementing the updates identified in the IT committee annual review.

Program coordinators: Program coordinators will submit updated content to the web master as the need arises.  During the annual review, program coordinators will ensure that all content relating the involved program is reviewed.  Updates will be provided to the web master.

Chairs of committees and advisory groups:Chairs of committees and advisory groups will submit updated content to the web master as the need arises.  During the annual review, the chairs will ensure that all content relating the involved committee or advisory group is reviewed.  Chairs will also verify the accuracy of the committee or advisory group membership at that time.  Updates will be provided to the web master.

Administrative officer: The administrative officer will assist with the annual review of material relating to the graduate program. 

Graduate Directorate: The graduate coordinator, modules coordinator and the chair of graduate admissions will submit updated content to the web master as the need arises.  During the annual review the graduate directorate will work with the administrative officer and IT committee to review of all material relating to the graduate program.

Chief technologist: The Chief Technologist will (i) maintain updated health and safety information and (ii) assist the web master with any major revision of the web site.  During the annual review the Chief Technologist will also review and provide updated information for any facilitates related content.

Secretary of Cow: The secretary of COW will update agendas and any other COW related information as the need arises.  Currently, this requires the secretary to work in coordination with the webmaster, as the secretary of COW does not have permission to access materials such as agendas.

Office Staff: The office staff will (i) update the list of important dates and remove past dates, (ii) update news, awards, lists of upcoming events and seminars and (iii) update the faculty directory and contact information as staff changes occur (new hires, retirements, etc) on a regular basis throughout the year. 

Individual faculty and staff:During the annual review all faculty and staff will review their personal web pages and provide updated content to the webmaster.

Provisional assignment of responsibility for assessing and updating the biology web site during its annual review: