Michael Bernstein, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, and Wendi Mathews, Director, Student Accessibility Support Center, have issued a message to faculty concerning the promotion of accessibility in course design. The message reads as follows:
As we prepare for the fall semester, we strive for a flexible delivery of coursework that empowers students to excel personally, academically, and professionally. Whether teaching online, in-person, or in a hybrid mode, we have the opportunity to revisit our curriculum design and ensure that all students can participate fully and equally in courses.
Our students have a variety of backgrounds, abilities, and learning styles. Student Accessibility Support Center (SASC) encourages you to provide all learners with multiple pathways to success when designing your course content. A universally designed classroom offers differentiated opportunities for students to meet learning goals. We ask you to consider the following when creating your course syllabi:
- Are students aware of the overarching learning goals of the course?
- Does the curriculum provide an opportunity for students to display their overall mastery in a variety of ways?
- Are there several opportunities for students to seek out feedback from faculty?
- Is there a consideration for all learning styles when presenting information?
- How are in-person classes prepared to accommodate students who must participate remotely?
SASC is here to support faculty with questions surrounding the implementation of academic accommodations. The below resources are available to aid faculty in planning an accessible course experience for all students:
Faculty Development Guide and Resources
Making Distance Learning Accessible
Promoting accessibility for students is key as we embrace diversity in all of its forms. Thank you for your commitment to fostering student success for our entire campus community.
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