About eCommunication Standards

These electronic communication standards and templates have been developed for University units to provide a consistent, policy-compliant presence in all electronic communications.

Required elements

All electronic communications must contain one basic element:

University of Minnesota wordmark*

Other elements are required based on medium:

Copyright information (Web, PowerPoint, video)
Privacy statement (Web, recommended for e-mail)
Equal opportunity statement (Web, PowerPoint)
Date of last revision (Web)
Contact information (Web, e-mail)

*The text equivalent of the wordmark should be used for text-only e-mail. Student groups are not allowed to use the wordmark. Other exceptions may apply, see the WWW Publishing Policy or the Use of the University's Trademarks, Logos, Colors, and Seal policy.

Why electronic communication standards matter

Use of electronic templates improves consistency and ensures that our audiences know they are visiting a University of Minnesota Web site, receiving an e-mail from a University of Minnesota unit, looking at a University of Minnesota PowerPoint presentation, watching a video produced by the University of Minnesota, and so on.

While providing a consistent electronic presence, the templates allow flexibility. They are not intended to make communications from all units within the University of Minnesota look alike.

University of Minnesota policies

The various electronic templates help units quickly and easily comply with the University of Minnesota's Publishing Information on the WWW policy, the Use of the University's Trademarks, Logos, Colors, and Seal policy, and the Including a Privacy Statement on U Web Pages policy.

The templates have been developed in consultation with the University's Computer Accommodations Program to ensure compliance with the University's Accessibility of Information Technology policy.

The templates also ensure that units include the required information noted above.

Begin with the Web templates

Even if you don't design or code your Web site using all the template elements, you must use the template header and footer to reinforce the University of Minnesota identity.

U of M's system for mass e-mail

Lyris, the U's mass e-mail distribution system, can be used for both internal and external mass e-mailings. See the eCommunications Web site for more information.