We will teach you the basics of how to kickstart your campus web change campaign. Web governance can be daunting but with this guide you will be moving in no time. In this web governance kickstart guide you will learn how to: Define your goal Outline your problem Build a case Create a path to success

1. Getting Started
With Governance
A Beginners Guide to Higher Ed Web Governance

2. About the Author
About Matt Herzberger
Having worked at both large public and small
private institutions, Matt understands the
unique challenges that come with a university
website. He has more than 13 years
experience in digital strategy for higher
education.
About Aligned Path
We know higher education websites. Our
goal is simple: to bring order to higher ed’s
wild, wild Web. We understand the
challenges facing higher education and the
growing demands placed on Web teams.
We’ve experienced the silos, the shrinking
resources, the lack of defined processes, the
growing complexity. We bring order.
The most important thing to know about
Aligned path: we align processes, policies,
tools and people to an organization’s
objectives.

3. TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION
2. DEFINE YOUR END GOAL
3. OUTLINE YOUR PROBLEM
4. BUILD A CASE
5. CREATE A PATH TO SUCCESS
6. CONCLUSION

4. Introduction
For starters, what is web governance? Definitions vary but at
it’s core it can be defined as:
Everything needed to manage your university’s Web presence in an
efficient and orderly way. The scale or size of your website will drive
the activities required to manage it and the resources needed to
perform those activities. It is made of four parts web strategy, web
governance, web execution, and web measurement

5. Introduction
Over the last 10-15 years web has gone from being a “new”
medium to the most important medium
This is warp speed in organization time. Our demands and expectations have
far surpassed our organization’s abilities to keep pace from a resource and
planning prospective. In days of past we had print which was a simple medium
to track and maintain. We had visibility and in most cases the print shop was
the place to catch what was going out. That being said, web is 24/7 and we
can’t be everywhere all the time. Web is critical to our institution’s operations
and we need start to carry out web operations in a mature and strategic
fashion.
“ Web governance frees you up to focus on
strategic objectives. You’ll be able to plan
for the future instead of putting out fires
in the present.

6. Define your goal
Develop understanding and clear definition of your
objectives (Point B). Ask questions, but most importantly,
listen
Where you want to go
•What are your organization’s overarching goals?
•How does web play a piece in that today?
•Is there a written web strategy?
•Who is the ultimate decision maker on web issues?

7. Outline your problem
Generate a complete picture of your current challenges
(Point A). In tandem with campus stakeholders, gather
insights
Where you are now
• Has anyone documented the legal, financial, and reputation-related risks
we’re taking on the web?
• Are the units or people not participating in the campus wide planning?
• Are there clear and understood guidelines for prioritizing web projects?
• Are the tools or systems that not everyone uses?
• Do you feel you have the right staff to meet the demands of your campus?

8. Build a case
Work to create a culture of collaboration and change, find
someone in senior leadership who will be your champion
Where you are now
• Build relationship across your organization
• Work your strengths, find low hanging fruit
• Find examples of other organizations that are doing this successfully
• Get external validation, find a partner who can help back your assumptions
• Show things that affect the bottom line (money and risk)

9. Create a path to success
Understand that you will not start at “perfect”. You more
than likely have a number of pieces of governance today.
Start with small wins and go from there
Where you are now
• Start to find others who are calling for change
• Find a first project
• Demonstrate and communicate your wins
• Keep focused on the success of your users and your organization

10. Conclusion
Web strategy must be just that, strategic. We must move from a
production focused mindset
TIP
An investment in internal efficiencies
makes all future investments pay off
many times over with increased chances
for success

11. Wonder how to better align your Web
resources?
Change in Higher ed Web is overdue. We want to hear more
about your problems. Get ahold of us to discuss your issues
CONTACT US NOW