Digital Accessibility Policy

Owner: Anastasia W. Rodriguez
Area: Vice President for Administration and Finance

Background

Federal regulations require that public colleges and universities ensure the web content and mobile apps that the entity provides or makes available, directly or through contractual, licensing, or other arrangements, comply with Level A and Level AA success criteria and conformance requirements specified in Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1.

Policy Statement

Definitions

• "Web content" is defined as the information and sensory experience to be communicated to the user by a web browser like text, images, sound, videos, controls, animations, and conventional electronic documents.
• "Mobile apps" is defined as software applications that are downloaded and designed to run on mobile devices like smart phones and tablets.

Requirements

All web content and mobile apps that Rhode Island College provides or makes available, directly or through contractual, licensing, or other arrangements, are expected to be developed and remediated in alignment with Level A and Level AA success criteria and conformance requirements specified in WCAG 2.1.

Faculty and staff who create digital content are required to follow institutional accessibility guidance to ensure the web content or mobile apps they create, provide or make available complies with Level A and Level AA of WCAG 2.1.  Web content includes, but is not limited to, material posted on the college's website, digital course material and content within the college's student-facing learning management system.

RIC may require that some or all non-compliant portions of web content be brought into compliance by designated staff, and the expense of that work may be charged to the division and/or department that is responsible for assuring the accessibility of that information.

Policy Applies To

All employees of RIC and any third party posting or creating content on RIC’s behalf due to contractual, licensing or other arrangements with RIC.

Exceptions

The following web content is not required to comply with Level A and Level AA of WCAG 2.1.

Archived Web Content

Web content is considered archived web content if (1) the content was created before April 24, 2026, reproduces paper documents created before April 24, 2026, or reproduces the contents of other physical medica created before April 24, 2026; (2) is retained exclusively for reference, research, or recordkeeping; (3) is not altered or updated after the date of archiving; and (4) is organized and stored in a dedicated area or areas clearly identified as being archived.

Preexisting Conventional Electronic Documents

Conventional electronic documents that are available as part of RIC’s web content or mobile apps before April 24, 2026 unless such documents are currently used to apply for, gain access to, or participate in RIC's services, programs, or activities.

Content Posted by a Third Party

Content posted by a third party, unless the third party is posting due to contractual, licensing, or other arrangements with RIC.

Individualized, Password-Protected or Otherwise Secured Conventional Electronic Documents

Conventional electronic documents that are: (1) about a specific individual, their property, or their account; and (2) password-protected or otherwise secured.

Preexisting Social Media Posts

RIC’s social media posts that were posted before April 24, 2026.

Responsible Parties

Vice President of Administration and Finance