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Policies & Procedures Table of Contents

Information Technology

SIUE Digital Accommodations Policy - 2D6 

  1. Purpose

    Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) is committed to ensuring equal access to all digital information and communication. By ensuring all people can access and acquire information, engage, and interact fully with others, we create an inclusive and diverse environment. The Digital Accessibility Policy demonstrates our community values that honor the spirit and responsibility bestowed upon our institution. 

  2. Scope

    This policy applies to all Information and Communications Technology – hereinafter referred to as digital content – developed, procured, maintained, used, or otherwise provided by the University for use by its personnel, students, or the public. For the purposes of this policy, digital content shall be defined as all text, documents, images, audio, video, or software endorsed or provided by the University. This includes, but is not limited to:

    • the entirety of the University website and all other websites hosted at siue.edu
    • digital media residing on the University website, including all text, images, documents, audio, and video
    • digital media posted through official University social media accounts, including text, images, videos, online broadcasts, streamed content, and advertisements
    • digital communications, such as email and forums
    • digital and online course materials, including but not limited to presentations/slideshows, recorded lectures, supplemental readings, and audiovisual course content (e.g. videos, films, recordings, or podcasts)
    • learning management systems (LMS)
    • courseware
    • video storage and management systems
    • digital textbook platforms
    • open educational resources (OER) hosted by SIUE
    • open educational resources (OER) hosted by a third party, when adopted for use in a course
    • content management systems (CMS)
    • web governance platforms
    • all other ITS-approved systems, software suites, tools, and resources

Digital content that is not accessed or utilized by human interface is beyond the scope of this policy.

  1.  Standards and Compliance

    1. Standards

      All of SIUE’s digital content will adhere to the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) Web Accessibility Initiative’s (WAI) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, Level AA to ensure compliance with all federal and state laws related to digital accessibility. These laws include, but are not limited to, the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, ADA Amendments Act of 2008, the Section 508 Amendment to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Illinois Information Technology Accessibility Act (IITAA), and the U.S. Department of Justice’s April 2024 final rule revising the regulation implementing title II of the ADA (“Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability; Accessibility of Web Information and Services of State and Local Government Entities”).

    2. Compliance

      Anyone authorized to create digital content, or purchase systems/software through which such content is delivered – either 1) within the SIUE domain, or 2) who represents the institution as an organization, at an event, or via web presence and social media – must undertake University-approved training that provides guidance on how to comply with the tenets of this policy.

      This training must be completed within 180 days of the adoption of this policy by current employees, student organization officers, or anyone who maintains a social media page or content representing SIUE’s interests in an official capacity. If this deadline occurs when a student is not enrolled in classes or an employee is not under contract to work (summer for example), they will have 30 days from their return to the University to complete the required training.

      As employees, student group officers, etc. join the University or are assigned responsibility for creating accessible content, they will complete required training within 30 days of either hiring or appointment, and/or prior to creating/being granted responsibility for a social media account.

    3. Digital Accessibility Working Group

      1. Representatives

        To ensure continued compliance with this policy, a Digital Accessibility Working Group will be established. The working group shall be comprised of at least one representative from at least each of the following constituencies: Accessible Campus Community & Equitable Student Support (ACCESS); Equal Opportunity, Access, & Title IX (EOA); Information Technology Services (ITS); Instructional Design & Learning Technologies (IDLT); and the SIUE Web Team.

        The Director of ACCESS will designate a chair for the working group and ensure that there is continuity of leadership in this effort.

      2. Responsibilities

        The Digital Accessibility Working Group will be tasked with the responsibility of developing, coordinating, and managing ongoing monitoring structures and processes for ensuring University conformity with this policy. The working group will develop and maintain a catalogue of known compliance issues so that they may be addressed when doing so is reasonable and does not constitute a significant hardship for the University. As appropriate, the working group may provide guidance to representatives of the University on ways they can remediate content, including providing authorized access to automated website governance and accessibility scanning/remediation platform(s) (see V. Monitoring and Review Process).

        The Digital Accessibility Working Group will work with relevant campus partners to develop and maintain training resources instructing SIUE users on how to remediate digital content to be in alignment with this policy. A link to an “Accessibility” page shall be located in the footer of every page on the SIUE domain. This page will assert the University’s commitment to accessibility and provide the following resources related to this policy:

        1. a link to the full text of this policy
        2. links to training modules
        3. guidance on how to request accommodations or modifications from either ACCESS or the Equal Opportunity, Access, & Title IX office
        4. a mechanism for reporting inaccessible digital content
      3. Accessibility Compliance Coordinators

        To assist the Digital Accessibility Working Group in its mission, each campus department shall designate at least one employee as an accessibility compliance coordinator who will be responsible for:
        1. monitoring their department’s compliance with this policy
        2. collaborating with the Digital Accessibility Working Group to ensure compliance edicts are enacted at the departmental level
        3. communicating questions or concerns to the Digital Accessibility Working Group
    4. Vendor Product Accessibility Requirements

      There can be significant costs associated with accommodating a product that is not in compliance with accessibility standards.

      Prior to the purchase, acquisition, or renewal of any product that falls within the scope of this policy, the prospective vendor will be required to submit a Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) that avers whether their product adheres to the W3C WAI WCAG 2.1, Level AA standard established by this policy. The VPAT must be reviewed by the department’s designated accessibility compliance coordinator. If a VPAT indicates that the product is not in compliance with this policy, the purchaser must either consider an alternative vendor or petition for an exception (see IV. Noncompliance).

      The VPAT format was developed by the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI). WCAG versions of the VPAT are available to download from ITI.
    5. Centralization

      ITS will make every effort to strengthen digital accessibility compliance by centralizing management of and access to current systems, tools, and resources where possible.
  2. Noncompliance
    1. Consequences of Noncompliance

      Noncompliance with this policy can result in removal of digital content and/or access to said content via University systems.

      Each SIUE employee and/or their respective department/unit is responsible for 1) ensuring that all digital content they publish complies with accessibility standards, and 2) remediating any digital content that does not. Significant costs may arise when remediating content for accessibility.

    2. Exceptions

      When it is believed that compliance with this policy may pose a fundamental alteration or undue hardship, a petition for an exception can be made to the Digital Accessibility Working Group. A proposal for viable alternatives or modifications must accompany the request for an exception. These alternatives or modifications must ensure, to the maximum extent possible, that individuals with disabilities are afforded an equal opportunity to obtain the same result, to gain the same benefit, or to reach the same level of achievement, in the most integrated setting appropriate to the person’s needs. The Digital Accessibility Working Group shall determine whether an exception is warranted and shall respond to the petition for exception within 15 days of its filing.
  3. Monitoring and Review Process

    For the Digital Accessibility Working Group to effectively implement the Digital Accessibility Policy at scale, the University commits to providing an appropriate level of resources required, including, but not limited to, the purchase and annual renewal of both new and previously-used website governance and accessibility scanning/remediation platform(s) for ensuring the accessibility of the University’s digital content. Using this monitoring structure, the Digital Accessibility Working Group and its delegates may produce audit reports for departments/units that identify instances of noncompliance with this policy.

    The working group may also 1) develop criteria and 2) identify appropriate interventions necessary for effective remediation of noncompliant materials and/or systems, as well as for the use of accessibility tools, systems, and/or training requirements and processes to ensure compliance with this policy.

    The Digital Accessibility Working Group will routinely review this policy for compliance with applicable state and federal laws, legal precedent(s), and/or revised standards, including but not limited to the W3C WIA WCAG guidelines. This review will be undertaken no less often than once every two years. This policy may be updated as frequently as needed to ensure the University remains in compliance with shifting legal requirements.
  4. Questions, Complaints, and Inquiries

    For any questions or concerns, or to provide notice of a potential violation of this policy, please contact the Accessible Campus Community & Equitable Student Support (ACCESS) Office.

    To file a complaint related to the implementation of this policy, please contact the Office of Equal Opportunity, Access, & Title IX Coordination (EOA).

Approved by Chancellor effective 2/5/26
This policy was issued on February 5, 2026.
Document Reference: 2D6
Origin: OC 2/5/26

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