WSG Minutes - Hilary Term 2009

1. Introductions
   Introductions were made for Catherine McKiernan, replacing Anne-Marie Drummond, and representing the Humanities Division.
   
   
2. Updating Web Accessibility guidelines
   Stephen Sangar of PAD will review the recently published WCAG 2.0 and BS 8878 Draft Code of Practice on Building Accessible Experiences for Disabled People. He will also discuss these with the university’s Disability Office. A report will be provided for the Trinity Term meeting of the WSG as to how the current accessibility guidelines and statement may need updating.
   Action: CE to report on progress to next meeting.
   
   
3. Branding update
   Nearly one third of departmental websites are now using the University's new brand mark. Many website owners have recently been contacted by Stephen Sangar either enquiring when the site will start to use the new brand mark or informing them how their use conflicts with the guidelines. The response has been largely positive and webmasters are thanked for this. The question of how many applications for funding had been received was asked and an answer was promised in the minutes.
   So far 8 departments have received a total of £21,360 for rebranding work.
   NOTE: If anyone is planning on moving over to the brand mark and would like assistance they should not hesitate to contact Stephen (stephen.sangar@admin.ox.ac.uk).

1. Update on Web Strategy Steering Group
   A meeting took place on January 22nd, 2009 to discuss the remit and membership of this new steering group that the GPC has agreed should be set up. The meeting's chair, Ewan McKendrick, will determine how best to move this forward after consultation with others as appropriate. 
   Action: JN to report back on progress at next meeting
   
   
2. Staff Gateway update
   The project has reached the end of Phase 2. A final design has been agreed upon following user testing with wire frame designs and a Contesting group reviewing the resulting graphical designs. Phase 3, building the actual gateway, is about to commence and a beta launch is scheduled for Week 9 of Hilary Term. It will be run in tandem with the existing Staff page to allow for user feedback and fine-tuning. It was also noted that once it has gone live, there is no road map for the Staff Gateway, no one is responsible for owning it, and no funding is allocated to it; this is a concern.
   
   Presently there are no further plans to continue developing the Staff Gateway into a personalised portal, for example. The feedback from the staff interviewed uncovered that they had little desire for this and felt that good organisation of the available information was enough.
   
   
3. Update on responsibility for web content
   After consultation it was felt that the original circular on this matter would need to be redrafted. The new web strategy steering group have been assigned this task and the matter has been passed over to Jennifer Noon. It was also believed that a list of current Web Managers was available through the OUCS Registry but that this needed to be confirmed.
   Action: JN to report progress at next meeting. SR and CE to investigate Registry list.
   
   
4. Funding of Google Search appliance
   
Funds have been secured to continue this service until the end of 2009. After that it will be financed from the core budget of OUCS.
   
   
5. Use of http://ox.ac.uk
   The group was not entirely persuaded by the submitted paper from OUCS. The main stumbling block appeared to be the role of Active Directory in the Groupware project. It was agreed that more detail explaining exactly what the problem would be helpful. The meeting noted once more that many other organisation seemed able to use the non "www" version of a web site address.
   Action: SR to gather further information about potential Active Directory issue from Groupware Project.

The Trinity Term 2009 WSG meeting will be held on Thursday 7 May 2009. Proposed papers/items should be sent to christopher.eddie@admin.ox.ac.uk for consideration no later than Thursday 30 April.