Our survey included 24 specialized institutions, with both good and poor examples. It was very difficult to identify the creator of these sites -- only seven authors could be identified, six of which were academic computing. We had an easier time identifying the primary Webmaster, and 10 of them relied on the campus-wide information server (CWIS).

What type of information is offered?

The survey documented what type of information was offered at each site. We created eight categories to synthesize and compare this information:

• general information about the university;
• general academic information;
• admissions information;
• information for alumnae;
• information about campus activities or calendar of events;
• library access;
• information from the public affairs/relations office; and
• specific departmental, school, or college information.

What directory services are available?

The services identified in the survey included a directory of faculty and students (white pages), a directory of home pages, and a campus map. Seven institutions offered a white page directory, while only five had a campus map or a directory to student and faculty home pages.

What qualities of hypermedia exist?

The survey used a rating system (1=best) to evaluate the level of hypermedia of each site. Two of the sites of specialized institutions received the highest rank, while the bulk fell into the middle. Six sites used the "mail to" feature, five had photos, and three used clickable maps. No online applications were available to students who wanted to apply to a specialized institution.

last updated: May 22, 1995