Information from the College calendar could be accessed through the portals, but it could be set either by category or by organization.

Rather than going through the Registrar Office's Web site, students will also be able to directly access grades and other registration information.

"We are trying to get as much data that students use onto the page," said Director of FAS Computer Services Franklin M. Steen.

Steen stressed that students will still have the discretion to shape their portals.

"Very little will be required," Steen said. "There may be some mandatory announcements but the rest can be added or removed and their placement on page can be determined by the student."

Students can already bookmark their favorite links on their own computers as well as make personalized Web pages, but portal pages will automatically make a site for students that they can access from anywhere, said Professor of Pure and Applied Physics Paul C. Martin, who chairs the committee.

Another advantage of portal pages is that they will motivate already existing sites to keep information current, Steen said.