Website Roles

Understand the roles required for the management of university websites.

The University Websites Policy establishes two required roles for the management of websites at Ohio State: 

  • Web Lead
  • Technical Manager

Web roles define clear responsibilities, ensure accountability, and facilitate effective web governance to ensure websites are in compliance with the policy.

1 Web Lead

Every site should have one person who can verify site content, management, process, and quality and be accountable for governance. A web lead is typically responsible for either making changes on the site or assigning and managing the work on a site.

Definition: Web Lead

Sometimes referred to as a web manager or owner, this individual or entity has the ultimate responsibility for the overall management of the website and complying with this policy and serves as the main point of contact regarding a website’s content, design, and compliance. A web lead must be identified and submitted in the Digital Inventory System for each university website.

Web Lead responsibilities:

  • Acts as the main point of contact for website
  • Oversees website and content management
  • Archives or removes websites that do not comply with this policy
  • Updates website management responsibilities when personnel change for web leads and technical managers in digital website inventory
  • Reports any violation of requirements set forth in the policy

2 Technical Manager

Definition: Technical Manager

An individual or entity responsible for overseeing and managing the technical aspects of a website's operation, maintenance, and development. This role ensures that the website functions optimally, remains secure, and meets the needs of the organization and its users. A technical manager must be identified and submitted in the Digital Inventory System for each osu.edu and ohio-state.edu website.

Technical Manager responsibilities:

  • Acts as secondary point of contact for website 
  • Oversees domain and subdomain registration
  • Acts as main point of contact for website infrastructure, including servers, security and hosting
  • Oversees website operation and maintenance
  • Authorizes official subdomain and domain requests as part of Domain Name Administrator (DNA) responsibilities

Digital Inventory System

The Digital Inventory System is used to manage and track university websites. It will organize, store, and retrieve data and policy compliance information related to websites.

Web leads are required to manage websites in the system. Your web lead or technical lead can login to maintain records. If you need to change your web lead or your technical manager, you may request support below.

More info on the revised University Websites Policy

In addition to establishing roles and responsibilities in the policy, the revised University Websites Policy:

  • Establishes systems and processes for creating and managing websites and mobile applications, to help ensure they are more uniform with brand, identity guidelines, and quality control. 
  • Ensures a standardized and consistent experience across Ohio State.
  • Reinforces the requirement that all Ohio State web properties meet security and accessibility policy compliance.
  • Reinforces updated standards to avoid out of date information, lack of modern design, and poor user experience that can lead to a damaged digital and institutional reputation.

You can view a full list of changes and read the proposed policy on the Office of Compliance and Integrity’s website.

Digital Inventory System of university websites

Web leads manage and maintain website records.

Search the inventory

Find a university website through search.

Web Lead Training

Read the steps to maintain website records according to policy.

FAQs

This page last updated 6/03/2025.