Dear faculty and staff,
New regulations under the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA) will require GVSU digital content to comply with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA standards. Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are technical standards that ensure digital content is accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities. Meeting these standards is both a legal requirement and the right thing to do. Our digital presence should serve our entire community equitably.
To support this commitment, the university has adopted the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 as its official technical standard for digital accessibility. These standards apply broadly to university websites and digital content, including materials delivered through Blackboard such as documents, PDFs, and videos. As we work toward the April 24, 2026, compliance milestone, the university recognizes that full accessibility is achieved over time.
Faculty and staff are encouraged to focus on intentional progress and thoughtful prioritization addressing the most impactful accessibility barriers first (syllabi, schedules, readings necessary to complete coursework. etc.), rather than attempting to remediate all existing materials at once.
To support this work, the Digital Accessibility Committee has developed a new website (gvsu.edu/wcag) that serves as a centralized hub for guidance, resources, and next steps. Faculty and staff are encouraged to explore the site and related eLearning training opportunities, and to direct questions to accessibility@gvsu.edu.
Thank you for your attention to these important guidelines and for helping to create an accessible environment for all at GVSU.
Sincerely,
