Third Level Naming
Third level naming refers to names applied to the third level of a
domain name. The levels are numbered from the right, so, for example,
in www.engl.iastate.edu, edu is the first level,
iastate is the second level, engl is the third
level, and www is the fourth level (www is a
traditional prefix used to indicate a web site). Note that the
www prefix can generally be omitted; its processing is a
function of the web host that responds to the domain name prior to
www. Frequently those who use a site without www
also respond to the site name with www. This is a local web
site decision.
The DNS policy requires that third level names be official Iowa
State department, college, unit, and council names. The staff
directory is used a reference for this determination. The sub-units
of Iowa State have identifiable functions, are officially recognized
and have full-time staff who can be responsible for the name and its
uses. It is also possible that generally recognized national or
regional abbreviations or synonyms for departments, college, or unit
names can be used or the spelled out name can be used (as in
english for engl).
The domain name portion of a URL refers to a web host, either real
or virtual. Any information after the slash delimiter (/)
following the domain name reading from the left, is considered to be
the path name. This path signifies to the web site that path to use
to access resources. To the user, this is usually considered to be an
option with the URL.
In general, those units maintaining real or virtual web host for a
domain name can process any path name they choose after the slash
delimiter in a URL. The domain name policy does not apply to path
names (that is, after the slash delimiter in a URL). So, for example,
the English department would be free to use
www.english.iastate.edu/writinglabs as a URL (as well as
www.engl.iastate.edu/writinglabs). This assumes that the
English department either maintains their own web host or make
provision for someone to run a virtual host for them. The real or
virtual host provides all interpretation regarding any path names.
In addition to recognized college, department and unit names, the
following third levels will be provided by AIT as part of the domain
name policy: committees, organizations and programs. AIT will maintain
the third levels of committees, stuorg,
greek, and programs and an associated web site. Any
committee, recognized by the Provost's office as an official
university committee, can have their name used as a path name after
committees.iastate.edu. Any student organization, recognized
by the Dean of Student's Office as an official university student
organization, can have their name used as a path name after
stuorg.iastate.edu. Any fraternity or sorority recognized by
the Dean of Students office can have their name used as a path name
after greek.iastate.edu. Generally the third level of
"programs" is reserved for those names that the applicable public
would recognize as university level programs. In any case where there
is a question, an administrator: Assistant Dean, Assistant Provost,
Assistant Vice President, or higher rank, can certify that the program
name is a university level program. As a university level program,
that name can be a path name following programs.iastate.edu. Note
that the path name must resolve to a real or virtual web site that
will respond to the URL.
There are a few third level names in existence for specific
purposes such as www.public.iastate.edu for public web pages.
Other third level names will be considered grandfathered until the web
server responding to them ceases to operate. In that case, the name
will be removed; any subsequent use of the name must follow this
policy.
The Provost or Vice Presidents may request specific third level
names normally relating to an office within their organizational
structure.
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