V1203.01 Digital Accessibility

Purpose

VCSU is committed to ensuring equal access to all programs and services for people with disabilities, prohibits disability discrimination, and assures equal opportunity to access the institution and associated information. To this end, the University will work to ensure that digital information and services conform to applicable accessibility requirements, and that individuals with disabilities have an opportunity equal to that of their non-disabled peers to access and utilize information and communications technologies, except where compliance is not required or is limited as permitted under applicable law and NDUS procedure (e.g., undue burden or funamental alteration).

VCSU will puruse compliance through a continuous improvement approach that prioritizes public-facing and high-risk systems and content first, while addressing other accessibility issues through routine maintenance cycles, content updates, and accommodation processes. Risk considerations may include legal, reputational, and operational factors.

Roles and Responsibilities

Digital accessibility is an institution-wide responsibility. Responsibilities are proportional to the role and the impact of the content or system, with heightened attention for public facing content.
Executive Sponsorship
1. The Chief Information Officer (CIO) is designated as the Digital Accessibility Compliance Coordinator ("Coordinator"). The Office of the CIO shall oversee the implementation, evaluation, assessment, and compliance of the Digital Accessibility Program, with the exception of (b) below. The CIO or designee establishes procedures and coordinates procurement of all electronic information technology (EIT).
2. The Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA) oversees the implementation, evaluation, assessment and compliance of Digital Course Content, Library Services and other academic services, excluding procurement which is a responsibility of the CIO or their designee.
3. Each VCSU Cabinet member is responsible to ensure their Unit contributes to improving digital accessibility.
4. VCSU Cabinet will create an administrative advisory committee or identify other institutional capacity to facilitate annual accessibility audits and plans.
The Disability Services Coordinator will 1) work with students, faculty and staff who request accommodations, 2) work with Technology Services and other EIT owners to make recommendations and/or implement digital accessibility tools and strategies for students, staff, and faculty who request accommodations, 3) assist faculty with making their course materials more accessible and 4) make recommendations for departmental and/or campus-wide changes in course materials to accommodate a wider range of disabilities and reduce the need for more specific accommodations.
The "Web Accessibility Team" shall improve the accessibility of VCSU web sites and advise the Coordinator. The Team shall include Technology Services staff, Marketing & Communications staff and other primary content managers of the various VCSU sites appointed by the Coordinator.
Accessibility support is available from Technology Services and Student Academic Services, through the Disability Support Services Coordinator.

Standards

All digital content and systems, whether public-facing or requiring authentication (including those accessed by students) shall conform to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level A and AA technical standards at a minimum, except as noted in NDUS Procedure 1203.1

Procedures

Please reference NDUS Procedure 1203.1, which is incorporated into this policy by reference, for complete digital accessibility requirements.
1. Electronic course content and communications delivered via the Web is considered EIT. Reference VCSU Policy V605.09.01 Expectations of Faculty Course Components for additional requirements.
A periodic accessibility compliance audit and risk assessment shall be conducted at least every two years as directed by the VCSU Cabinet. The audit report shall include recommendations for improvement. The report shall be provided to the VCSU Cabinet as a basis for adopting University-level objectives for a digital accessibility improvement plan.
Procurement of EIT shall follow VCSU Policy V1201.01 Information Technology Approval Process.
Exceptions to accessibility shall follow NDUS Procedure 1203.1.
1. VCSU Policy V1201.01 provides details of how a request is made and processed for any EIT procurement, including accessibility compliance exception requests. Procurement of EIT products that do not meet the standards identified in this procedure or an equivalent level of accessibility must be approved by the Coordinator or their designee. The approval must be made before the entity agrees to acquire the EIT product.
2. If an exception is granted, the requestor shall bear the primary responsibility for providing some form of equally effective alternative access, if one exists, to ensure that, to the maximum extent possible, those with disabilities receive the same benefits as their non-disabled peers.
An individual needing a specific accommodation may choose to submit a Request for Services to the Disability Support Services Coordinator. The Disability Support Services Coordinator reviews the Request for Services and all supporting documentation provided by the individual. The individual and the Disability Support Services Coordinator then determine, through an interactive conversation, reasonable accommodations. The Disability Support Services Coordinator notifies the individual’s instructors and/or supervisor of the individual’s accommodations. Instructors who are unable to provide specific accommodations due to course or department standards of rigor may suggest alternative accommodations.
Each VCSU website must contain an accessible link to the “Report Accessibility Issue” web form as a point of contact if users have trouble accessing content within the site. This form shall be monitored by the Coordinator or their deisgnee and, the primary staff member in charge of maintaining www.vcsu.edu.
Individuals wishing to file a grievance may do so by using the “Report Accessibility Issue” web form or by contacting the Coordinator directly.

References

North Dakota University System Procedure Policy 1203.1 Digital Accessibility
VCSU Policy V1901.03 Information Technology Approval Process
VCSU Policy V605.09.01 Expectations of Faculty Course Components
Report Accessibility Issue web form

Sponsors: Chief Information Officer (effective April 2026)

Effective: July 2014

Revised: October 2020 (formerly V1912.06), December 2021

Revised: April 2026