Executive Summary 

Web expenditures are big business on campus, and warrant a centralized strategy and development 

support framework. The Web Services Committee focused on defining a sustainable web development 

framework. This framework will enable long term web services integration, which is essential for the 

New Business Architecture, campus portal, and to enhance the academic arena. The proposed web 

development framework has three new organizational components including a Web Council, Web 

Coordinators group, and Web Technical Unit. 

Web Council The Web Council would be appointed by the Information Technology Committee (ITC). 

The Web Council would: 

Meet regularly to provide continuity in implementing a strategic web development 

framework, and continue to refine the concepts proposed in this report. 

Provide research and recommendations on policy and funding for the consideration of the 

ITC.  

Research and recommend content management systems or processes to the ITC. 

Communicate constructively with the web developers to build community across the 

campus, using an online newsletter similar to UCLA's iCompass 

http://www.icompass.ucla.edu/index.htm

Represent key stakeholders across the campus. 

Be co chaired by the Chief Information Officer and another key constituent to be 

determined. 

Permanently report to the ITC. 

Web Technical Unit. We recommend that ITC advocate for funding a small web technical unit be 

formed that is centrally funded to act as a technical swat team for web applications, work with 

Computing Coordinators to build community, and serve as staff to the ongoing UCSC Web Council. A 

key role of the centrally funded web organization would be to develop, implement, and support the 

framework via technical development, training development, and information architecture services. 

Their focus would be on web expertise, not on content, so their skills would be applied to both 

academic and administrative areas. They would leverage resources from across the campus. The 

estimated cost for the first year would be $300K, plus an undetermined cost for office space 

renovation (if needed). The small web unit could have, for example, an information architect, 

programmer/web developer, and administrative specialist/editor.  

Web Coordinators Group. We recommend that the Web Council sponsor monthly 1.5 hour web 

application developer meetings where projects using tools are showcased and developers assist each 

other. Guest speakers would be sponsored occasionally.  

The Web Services Committee has identified five roles that are critical to an effective process for 

website development: content expert, web developer, information architect, system administrator, 

and principal officer of the unit. In the first year, the Web Council, Web Coordinators, and Web 

Technical Unit would contribute to developing processes for: 

Defining the five essential functional roles of the web development framework 

A checklist for official sites, and associated policies 

Training requirements for the staff in web development roles 

Content management  

Standard tools for both static pages and web application development.