Review
In June, 1995, the ad hoc Committee to Implement a Web Site at Clarion University began to meet. Through the summer and into the fall semester, that committee has made hardware and software recommendations necessary to the successful implementation of a web site. The committee (chiefly Mr. Phillips) also began to conceptually organize and implement an experimental WWW server (demonstrated to the Deans in September, 1995).
During the six month process of producing a workable test WWW server, the ad hoc Committee more than doubled in size owing to the need for expertise beyond computers. Moreover, the discussions of the committee have turned from computer hardware and software to information organization and public relations. The ad hoc committee enthusiastically constructed the model and recommended server hardware and software. The hardware and software have been ordered. Additionally, for the past 4 months the university has been testing an experimental WWW server.
Present Situation
At present, the ad hoc committee is attempting to establish a time line for completion of the project. Several issues have made that task more difficult. First, in the absence of guidance from either the administration or the university community at large, committee members have been reluctant to define exactly what Clarion's WWW server consists of. Failing to delineate the limits of the "official" WWW site (as opposed to the "unofficial" areas linked to the official server) has meant that the committee is attempting to estimate the time of completion of an undefined task. Moreover, the committee has not failed to note that the requested commitment of personnel (to create and maintain the web site) has been lacking. Thus the committee finds itself trying to estimate an unlimited task with no commitment of personnel. Under these circumstances we are unable to provide a meaningful time estimate.
Similarly, the committee finds itself ill prepared to formulate the necessary university policies and rules associated with WWW server use. Nor can it provide insight into issues of interface, logo, or esthetics. The ad hoc committee was appointed to establish the hardware platform, the software server, and demonstrate the kinds of information that could be served by a university web site at Clarion. We do not represent larger constituencies. We were appointed to the committee largely owing to our technological expertise. And we have fulfilled our initial mission.
Lessons learned
As the project moves from test to actuality, several things have become obvious to the committee. First, the people who ought to be involved in the project are the people who have information that they wish placed on the university server. The library, for example, has no appointee to the ad hoc committee. What information should the server contain about one of our most important facilities? And, should the Committee to Implement a Web Site be the purveyor of that information? We think a better solution is to have library employees organize the information. Similarly, the counseling center, career services, and departments ought to have the freedom to provide their information unhindered by an ad hoc committee.
Secondly, the ad hoc Committee to Implement a Web Site cannot and should not filter information. That was not our call, nor do we have any particular expertise in the matter. Additionally, the ad hoc committee does not have adequate resources to accept responsibility for Web site construction or maintenance.
Recommendations
Consequently, the ad hoc committee recommends that a WWW council be formed. The council would consist of the "responsible party" of any groups providing a "page" of information to the official WWW server. The "responsible party" is the person identified on each page as the provider of the information. The university should make efforts to assist these focused interest groups produce their page through training seminars and/or graduate assistance. The WWW council would be a lose amalgamation of information providers that could take up issues of esthetics, user interface, consistency, and quality control through their monthly meetings. The council would assure that information provided by the university is current and has a responsible party identified on each page of information. Additionally, the council could assure that the information providers are responsible (as opposed to the ad hoc committee).
Finally, it is the ad hoc committees position that the transition from an experimental WWW site to a functional and complete university-wide WWW effort would best be served through the establishment of a voluntary council rather than an appointed committee. Furthermore, we believe that only a WWW council could provide a reliable timetable. Consequently, we recommend that, having completed its mission, the ad hoc committee be superseded and replaced immediately by a more participatory council representing all areas of the university.
Epilogue
The above, written, proposal was made at a meeting of the ad hoc Clarion University World Wide Web Committee in September, 1996. Unfortunately, no quorum was present at the meeting. The proposal was never voted. Dr. Vilberg resigned from the committee, at the next meeting, October 1997.