Mark your calendars for Digital Equity Day on April 25th! Join us in the University Library Ferman Presentation Room or live on Zoom for an engaging program exploring Digital Equity at CSUN.

The event will begin with opening remarks from President Erika D. Beck, following a welcome from Ron Philip, Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer (CIO).

The program will also feature a keynote session by Kari McCoy, our 2024–25 Doctoral Student Academic Technology Equity Fellow, and faculty presentations from the AI in Teaching and Research Pilot.

Your input matters! Please take a few minutes to complete the annual CSUN IT Survey and help guide the future of technology at CSUN.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has been revised to incorporate specific guidelines about how to make digital content accessible (the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, Level AA). These changes take effect April 24, 2026 and will impact everything from instructional documents to digital tools.

In this edition, we’re spotlighting a new accessibility tool in Canvas, powered by Cidi Labs, plus a streamlined ICT Procurement process to help faculty purchase compliant technology more efficiently.

Looking to improve your course materials? Learn how to enhance content visibility with color contrast, follow best practices for accessible faculty websites, and explore a new summer program from the a11y+ team that trains students in accessibility skills—an innovative way to expand support across campus.

This month’s featured workshops explore practical ways to integrate technology into your teaching. Discover how to personalize student feedback using AI, make your PDFs accessible, build a custom GPT without coding, and get hands-on with ChatGPT and other AI tools.

Thanks for all that you do to make CSUN a more inclusive, innovative learning environment!

Want to connect? Join our Zoom Drop-in Hours, make an appointment, or send us an email. Follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn for more Academic Technology updates.

Join us for CSUN Digital Equity Day 2025 on April 25th in-person in the University Library Ferman Presentation Room or live on Zoom! This event will feature opening remarks by President Beck, a keynote by Kari McCoy, our 2024-25 Doctoral Student Academic Technology Equity Fellow, Exploring the Impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Community Partnerships on Continuation High Schools, and more. Sign up to attend!

The accessibility tool in Canvas is getting an upgrade! Starting in academic year 2025-26, Cidi Labs will power alternate formats, checks and guides for accessibility inside of Canvas courses. Learn about new accessibility features.

An accessibility review is part of the process when purchasing technology for CSUN. We've improved the form and submission steps to make it easier to complete and track your request. Read more about ICT Procurement Forms in TOPdesk.

New ADA guidelines take effect April 24, 2026, impacting how we create and share digital content at CSUN—including documents, videos, and instructional tools. Learn what’s changing and how to make your materials accessible.

Make your course content easier for all students to read—especially those with visual impairments—by using effective color contrast. Learn simple tips and tools that can make a big impact on accessibility.

Designing accessible web content ensures all CSUN students can engage with your materials—regardless of ability. Follow these best practices to make your site more inclusive and compliant. Explore web accessibility guidelines.

An innovative program from CSUN’s a11y+ team will train CSUN students on accessibility skills, expanding the number of people at CSUN who can help faculty with accessibility. Learn more about this summer program and how it helps CSUN prepare for upcoming ADA changes.

Discover how AI can help you deliver faster, more personalized student feedback! Join us for this and more in our new "Everyday AI in Academia" series and explore how AI can help enhance your teaching in practical ways.

Want to make your course materials more accessible? Join us for “PDF Accessibility Tools” and learn practical strategies to ensure your PDFs meet accessibility standards. Register now and empower your students to succeed!

Curious about how ChatGPT and other AI tools can support your teaching? Join this hands-on session to explore practical, ethical ways to use generative AI in the classroom.

Want to build your own custom GPT to streamline tasks or support student learning? Join this interactive session to learn how easy it is to create a GPT—no coding required.

Find more professional development opportunities on the Academic Technology workshop calendar.

Share topics you would like to see covered in a future newsletter, give us feedback on your experience with instructional technology, or let us know of workshop resources you are interested in with the Academic Technology Feedback Form.