Brand Standards
The following website standards will help ensure an online visual identity that improves recognition and awareness of the university and generates increased understanding of and support for CU Boulder’s mission, vision and goals.
CU Boulder’s web identity is intended for university departments and university-recognized affiliates conducting official university business, and these guidelines describe the required elements for all university websites. The CU Boulder web identity may not be used on personal websites or on student group sites.
CU Boulder’s Web Development Guidelines cover compliance with the web identity standards. To assist web publishers in implementing the standards, consultation on use of the templates and on creating custom designs is available from Strategic Relations at no charge.
Review and approval of the site by Strategic Relations before launch is also required to ensure that CU Boulder’s web identity is properly implemented.
Required Elements
Four Banner Color Choices
Background color: #000000
Background color: #333333
Background color: #F2F2F2
Background color: #FFFFFF
Banner Requirements
- Banner must appear at the very top of every CU Boulder webpage.
- Banner must not be resized or altered in any way.
- The name of the unit must be in the font Helvetica Neue as shown above.
- The name of the unit should be as short as possible and should not include designations such as: “Department of,” “Division of” or “Office of.”
- Using “Center of” or “Institute of” is acceptable to distinguish a center from an academic unit or major.
- Using “College of” or “School of” is acceptable to distinguish units from academic departments.
- The full name of the unit should be spelled out in the text on the homepage of the webpage and in the text wherever appropriate.
- Abbreviations may be used in the the web banner. The full name of the unit should be spelled out in the text on the homepage of the webpage and in the text wherever appropriate.
Spacing
There should be at least 20 pixels of space between the logo and the edge of the banner.
Search Box
A search box in the banner is recommended. This is the only element that may be added to the web banner.
Required Footer Elements
- Link to your unit contact page, email address, phone number and/or address
- University name: University of Colorado Boulder
- Copyright statement:
© Regents of the University of Colorado - Privacy & Trademark links:
Legal & Trademarks | Privacy
Title Tag
The title in a webpage is important for search engine ranking and identification of affiliation. One of the following formats should be used on all pages:
- Page name | Site name | University of Colorado Boulder
- Page name | Site name | CU Boulder
Accessibility
Web sites are required to follow the Campus Accessibility Policy to provide equal access for people with disabilities. This can be done by following best practices and by using the design themes in CU Boulder Web Express, provided web templates or following the specifications as provided on the campus accessibility website.
Seals, Logos and Marks
The university's names and symbols, such as the interlocking CU and other marks, seals and logos, are the property of the university and must be used as demonstrated.
Legal and Policy Issues
Campus websites must comply with all university policies, rules and regulations, and local, state and federal laws. The primary campus policies applying to web sites are provided through the Web Development Guidelines, Campus Accessibility Policy and Acceptable Use of CU Boulder's IT Resources.