All campuses have been dealing with the ADA Title II compliance requirements effective April 24, 2026 campuses with more than 50,000 enrollments) or April 27, 2027 (for campuses with fewer than 50,000 enrollments). Specifically, covered institutions must meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA standards by the appropriate April deadline.
I serve as a member of my campus’ taskforce, and we have been discussing what is encompassed by the DOJ directive. In the meetings we have had to date, it has felt a bit like “déjà vu” as we have had similar conversations over the years—attempts to organize, coordinate, track, and inventory the array of technologies (hardware/software) that have been adopted, licensed, or contracted. I think some campuses have had better luck than others, but there has historically been an inherent risk–and ability–for individual departments and colleagues to go rogue when procuring a new technology solution.
Oddly, the new edict offers an opportunity to finally get in front of this issue – a “hammer” if you will, to help structure the exploration, procurement, and implementation of technologies that not only ensure ADA compliance but also meet other institutional requirements and expectations. The result? Purchases that are compatible with your institution’s networking, hardware, and staff capacities while also allowing you to shop for the best price.
The additional benefit—which I personally favor—is a comprehensive up-to-date listing of edtech hardware and software. This centralized solution can help your professional development training staff better determine what sessions to offer and can also encourage greater cooperation and connection among departments interested in using the same technology solution.
If you haven’t already done so, I encourage you to address the pending ADA compliance by taking a far more comprehensive approach to the issue. You have the opportunity to fix a much larger chronic problem on your campus–seize the day!!
Recommended Reading
The AI Tsunami Is Here: Reinventing Education In The Age Of AI, EDUCAUSE
In the age of artificial intelligence, higher education must move beyond content delivery toward interactionalism—a human-centered approach to learning that fosters collaboration, creativity, adaptability, feedback, and well-being
Higher Ed Tech Leaders Pursue Consolidation And Savings, Inside Higher Ed
Educause’s latest Top 10 survey shows economic and political uncertainty are putting pressure on colleges to streamline their tech environments while keeping up with AI’s evolution.
The Human Edge Of AI, EDUCAUSE
Increasingly, artificial intelligence is becoming a competency that rests in the hands of each individual person—an individual capability rather than just, or even primarily, an institutional one.
Colleges and Universities Offer Faculty Development For Use In the Classroom, EdTech Magazine
Workshops, websites and other resources are helping educators enhance students’ learning experience.
How To Power Workforce With Integrated Classroom Design, University Business Magazine
With the demand for expertise in AI, data science, engineering and health sciences, job growth in the STEM fields is outpacing non-STEM careers by 2X, with nearly 12 million positions expected to be available by 2030.
ATE Open Ed Materials Now Available, CCDaily
The open education materials developed by Advanced Technological Education (ATE) centers and projects are now available through the free STEMLink service for easy uploading to community colleges’ learning management systems.
Video Of The Week
How Stanford Teaches AI-Powered Creativity, YouTube
Key Insights:
- How treating AI as a teammate rather than just a tool can dramatically improve outcomes
- Why you should have AI ask you questions instead of just answering yours
- How non-technical professionals can leverage AI to achieve extraordinary results
- The difference between treating AI as a tool versus as a teammate
