The Web Presence templates are designed to provide users with three primary types of navigation: function-based, audience-based and topic-based navigation. The combination of these navigational elements offer multiple means for users to access the content on the site. Breadcrumbs also are used to provide contextual links to the site.
These links appear on every page and provide site-wide access to universal content and functions. On the NIU website these links include: A-Z index, Calendar, Phone Book, NIU Home, Search box. NIUConnect will be added when the new Student Information System becomes available.
The audience links on the NIU homepage are: Students, Faculty & Staff, Alumni and Parents. Other sites may add or remove links according to what is appropriate for their particular site. These buttons are consistently positioned below the main header, but may be omitted completely deemed necessary for a certain site.
This is the main topic navigation for a site. Ideally these are organized into a limited number of important main topics within each site. Each main topic expands when clicked to show related subtopic links. Each site will include their own custom set of left navigation links.
This is a navigational element just below the header that shows users where they are in the site hierarchy and provides a way to move back up the hierarchy. Breadcrumbs are used on all pages except those with a large graphic directly below the page header.