#  School/Unit Governance Model 

 



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Web governance at Harvard ensures that the University’s digital presence remains secure, accessible, consistent, and sustainable at scale.

Governance provides the structure needed to align local decision-making with University-wide standards for thousands of websites representing academic, administrative, and research communities.

It connects policy, platform, and practice, helping Schools and units manage their web portfolios responsibly while benefiting from shared infrastructure and expertise.



 

##  Benefits of web governance 

 



- **Security and risk reduction:** Central standards and oversight help prevent vulnerabilities, ensure timely updates, and reduce exposure to threats across all sites.
- **Accessibility and compliance:** Governance reinforces adherence to accessibility and legal requirements, ensuring all users can access Harvard’s digital content.
- **Cost efficiency and sustainability:** By guiding teams toward shared platforms like HarvardSites, governance reduces duplicative spending on custom builds and external vendors, and avoids long-term maintenance burdens.
- **Consistency and quality:** Design systems and shared standards create a cohesive, high-quality user experience across Harvard’s web presence.
- **Clear accountability:** Defined roles and processes help Schools manage site lifecycles, content ownership, and resource allocation more effectively.
- **Data-informed improvement:** Governance incorporates analytics and user feedback to continuously improve platforms and services for the broader community.



 

 

##  Risks of not having governance 

 



- **Increased security vulnerabilities:** Decentralized, unmonitored sites are more likely to fall out of date, exposing the University to cyber threats and data risks.
- **Accessibility gaps and legal exposure:** Without consistent standards, sites may fail to meet accessibility requirements, creating barriers for users and potential compliance issues.
- **Higher costs and inefficiency:** Engaging external web firms for bespoke solutions often leads to higher upfront costs, ongoing vendor dependence, and duplicated effort across Schools.
- **Fragmented user experience:** Inconsistent design and navigation across sites make it harder for users to find information and erode trust in Harvard’s digital presence.
- **Portfolio sprawl and technical debt:** Without lifecycle management, sites accumulate over time, becoming outdated, unmanaged, and costly to maintain.



 

 

 

 

##  Governance Roles and Responsibilities 

 



##  Harvard Web Publishing 

 



HWP serves as steward of the HarvardSites platforms and the Harvard Design System. Its role is to ensure that the system operates reliably, securely, and accessibly at scale.

HWP responsibilities include:

- Define and maintain the platform roadmap
- Operate and secure the platform
- Maintain accessibility and compliance
- Develop and steward the Design System
- Provide training, documentation, and best practices
- Supply analytics and institutional reporting
- Facilitate governance forums and communications



 

 

##  School Governance Groups 

 



School Governance Groups manage how HarvardSites is adopted and sustained within their portfolios.

**Responsibilities include:**

- Approve new site and domain requests.
- Define and enforce School Terms of Use.
- Conduct periodic site inventory reviews.
- Apply design variations consistently.
- Review analytics and trends.
- Communicate with School leadership and site administrators.
- Advocate for School priorities within HWP forums.
- Approve outsourcing decisions.