The use of tarleton.edu or its respective subdomains is governed by Web Operations. Please read and become familiar with these procedures before requesting a WordPress account or a new website. The following guidelines dictate specific additional terms of use for the Tarleton State University website.

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Access to Tarleton.edu and WordPress

Web Operations reserves the right to limit or restrict user access to WordPress and may do so if a user has not adhered to posted policies, terms of service or guidelines. Direct access to www.tarleton.edu is limited to Web Operations and authorized members of ITS.

Third-Party Scripts and Code Libraries

All third-party embedded scripts and code libraries are subject to evaluation and approval by Web Operations prior to use. Unauthorized or unapproved scripts and libraries are strictly prohibited. Individual scripts identified by Web Operations as potentially exposing others to risk, abuse, or intrusion may be disabled and/or removed.

Retargeting ad campaigns must be approved by Marketing & Communications. All reasonable efforts will be made to communicate with the site owner and manage the removal in such a way as to minimize service interruptions, but removal may precede notification if the situation warrants such action. Please contact [email protected] to submit script requests for approval.

Database Access

The website is primarily designed to host and serve university web pages, though it also hosts some PHP-based web applications. Web Operations manages these applications to ensure all security measures are properly established. The development of applications that require database access is restricted exclusively to the Web Operations department.

Supported Web Development and SFTP Access

Web Operations supports the WordPress Content Management System as the official tool for setting up and maintaining a Tarleton website. SFTP (Secure File Transfer Protocol) access is reserved exclusively for Web Operations and authorized members of ITS.

Digital Media or Other Types of Large Files

The website is designed to serve web pages and is not to be used as a media server for large media files or as a download area for large files of any type. You may not place any digital media file (audio such as MP3, any type of video file, or any individual file over 5MB in size) without express authorization from Web Operations. This ensures the proper functioning of the public university website and protects the server from the extraordinary traffic volumes and storage requirements that digital media files sometimes impose. Additionally, many music and video files are copyrighted and may not be placed in a public access point such as the website under any circumstances. Other university resources are better suited for hosting media files if necessary.

Web Directory Structure

Requests for specific forms of URLs are handled on a “first-come, first-served” basis, and certain URL forms may not be available because they are already in use. Web Operations also reserves the right to refuse requests for URLs likely to be used for university administration (e.g., URLs including words like “security” or “emergency”). If you wish to create a specific URL for a print publication, please contact Web Operations prior to printing to ensure that the URL is available and functioning.

Website Updates and Maintenance

• Content Maintenance: Each department, program, organization, and faculty website must have a designated person responsible for making regular content updates. Web Operations will provide training for these designated web editors and site owners.
• Ongoing Review: Websites are subject to periodic review by Web Operations to ensure they meet accessibility, brand, and performance standards.
• Abandonment and Removal: Web Operations reserves the right to archive and remove websites that have been abandoned. A site is considered abandoned if it has not been updated for one year or more and contains outdated or incorrect information. Web Operations will continuously monitor websites for outdated content.
• Legal, or Security Incident: If a legal or security incident is identified, Web Operations may archive and/or remove the affected website. While efforts will be made to contact site owners in such cases, websites deemed abandoned may be removed without notice after one year of inactivity.

Site Redirects

Departments or Divisions may submit requests to Web Operations to set up redirects to direct traffic from one page to another Tarleton-related page. Redirect requests are at the discretion of Web Operations and may not be honored if there is no validity to the request.

Websites must be developed within the university’s official web infrastructure and content management system (CMS). Any use of external third-party platforms for hosting or managing university websites is strictly prohibited.

Procuring Contractors, Vendors, or Other Third-Party Companies to Create Websites

Web Operations allows authorized contractors, vendors, or other third-party companies to create or modify existing university websites. All websites developed by third-party vendors or contractors must comply with the university’s web standards, including accessibility and usability guidelines. Additionally, websites must adhere to the university’s branding and style guidelines as outlined by the Department of Marketing & Communications.

Departments and divisions must request a vendor account from Innovative Technology Solutions before development access is granted. Once an account is created and Web Operations is notified, the vendor will receive access.

For more information, see additional policy details.

SSL and Secure Information Transmission

The university website and its subdomains are equipped with rotating SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificates. SSL is a security protocol that establishes a secure connection between two devices or applications on a network. This standard technology ensures an encrypted internet connection, protecting data sent between a website and a browser or between two servers.

Guideline Changes and Policy Enforcement

These service guidelines may change without notice. However, we will provide the Tarleton State University community with advance notice of any anticipated changes whenever possible. As the maintainers of the university’s public website, we reserve the right to make any necessary technical changes to the website and its subdomains. While we aim to give prior notice when feasible, immediate action may be taken without warning to ensure the security and normal operation of the website. This may include deactivating accounts, removing websites, deleting files, or altering site configurations if the website’s security is at risk.

Updated: May 2024