Digital Accessibility Policy

Explore
  • Policy Category and Number: Digital Technology Services
  • Effective Date: 4/26/23
  • Responsible Officer: Vice President & Chief Information Officer Digital Technology Services 
  • History: New Policy; Policy on Digital Accessibility 4-26-23, Updated 5/27/2026
  • Responsible Office: MarCom, Digital Technology Services 
  • Location: Link 

Purpose

This policy is intended to fulfill Wentworth Institute of Technology’s (university’s) commitment to Inclusive Excellence, opportunity, and access, including supporting a digital environment that is accessible to all, and in particular, individuals with disabilities.

Scope/Applicability

This policy applies to all members of the Wentworth community, students, faculty, staff, and affiliates, as well as third-party vendors who create digital content.

This policy applies to digital content hosted by the university (including but not limited to websites, emails, course materials, admissions portals, student activities platforms, surveys) that is used in furtherance of the university’s delivery of programs, services, or activities.  An exception to this policy is with regard to explicitly archived content.

Legal

Policy

This policy is intended to ensure that all digital content and the systems that contain them, can be equitably accessed by all users. All content creators are responsible for ensuring such equitable access.  Similarly, if a user of Wentworth controlled information encounters a barrier, they are encouraged to report the barrier at https://wit.edu/about/contact-us or to use the form found in the footer of the Wentworth website under “Report a Web Accessibility Concern.”  

Definitions

  1. Accessible: Means that a person with a disability is afforded the same opportunities as a person without a disability to acquire the same information, engage in the same interactions, enjoy the same services, and experience substantially equivalent ease of use.
  2. Alternative Access: Auxiliary aides and services that affords individuals with disabilities an equal opportunity to obtain the same result, gain the same benefit, or reach the same level of achievement, in the most integrated setting appropriate to their needs.
  3. Archived Content: Any content that is 1) retained only for reference, research, or recordkeeping;  2) kept in a special area for archived content (which may vary for each type of content), AND 3) unchanged since it was archived. Archived content may be made accessible or an alternative access plan developed upon request and with reasonable notice.
  4. Content Creators: The department or employee who is responsible for directly creating digital content, posting digital content, or contracting with an external party to provide or manage such content (e.g. those developing websites, creating course materials, posting on social media, sending emails).  
  5. Digital Accessibility Advisory Group: Advisory group consisting of members from academic and administrative units and are responsible for setting accessibility policies and guidelines
  6. Digital Content: All written, audio, visual, and other content delivered via a digital system or consumed within a digital medium.
  7. Digital Systems: All university websites, Web applications, learning and content management systems, library systems, digital materials, event and calendar systems, university email delivery systems, mobile apps, customer relationship management systems, and any software used to conduct university business; computers and peripherals, information kiosks, telephones, digital signs, and other electronic equipment involving a digital display.
  8. University Business: Any activities carried out under the auspices of the university but does not include activities organized or conducted by students or student organizations.  
  9. University Website: Any public-facing website or web-based application within a Wentworth-controlled domain used to conduct university business by Wentworth faculty and staff
  10. Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (“WCAG”): A tool used to assess the accessibility of Web content and develop accessible content. Wentworth aspires to satisfy the WCAG, v. 2.1, Level AA standard of the WCAG, and reserves the right to update this standard as appropriate.  

Procedure(s)

Creation of Digital Content and Procurement of Digital Systems

  1. Content creators must follow current WCAG v. 2.1 AA accessibility standards when creating or modifying existing content.  
  2. Content creators are also responsible for ensuring that any new systems and features meet accessibility standards and/or satisfies the university’s procurement standards.
  3. The university may establish procedures to assure the university specification for digital systems purchases include specifications for accessibility when relevant and uniformly applied across departments. 

Monitoring

  1. Marketing & Communications (“MarCom”) will monitor wit.edu to ensure that both its content and infrastructure remain in compliance with current WCAG accessibility standards.  To do this, MarCom will use a combination of technology testing and human review of websites.
  2. The Advancing Teaching, Learning, and Scholarship (ATLAS) Center will monitor learning management system (LMS, currently Brightspace) content to support faculty in ensuring that course materials are accessible.
  3. For properties managed at domains other than wit.edu domain or Brightspace, the vendor and/or department will be responsible for managing and monitoring. 

Exceptions

  1. Typically, archived content does not fall under this policy unless a specific request for accommodation has been received. Requests will be reviewed by university officials.  
  2. Digital systems and digital content not used for university business or educational purposes do not fall within this policy.  
  3. Requests for digital content and digital systems exemptions must be in writing and submitted to the digital accessibility advisory group using this form: https://wentworth.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9YSU6sl1Z9Cq0Bg  
  4. Content creator responsible for the exemption will work with individuals who are unable to access content to provide alternative access as allowed. 

Enforcement

  1. Content creators are responsible for updating digital systems and digital content that are not in compliance and not subject to an exemption within such timelines established by the university.
  2. Content creators may be requested to elevate the priority of accessibility efforts in instances where a specific request has been made by a Wentworth community member.
  3. Employees who violate this policy may be subject to discipline, up to and including termination of employment. 

Reporting and Responding to Accessibility Issues

  1. The Digital Accessibility Sub-Committee is responsible for reviewing and responding to reports of "digital accessibility concerns.”
  2. A representative from the group will route reports to the appropriate department for additional follow-up regarding reports.  
  3. A Representative from the Digital Accessibility Sub-Committee and/or Student Accessibility Services and/or Human Resources will work with individuals who are unable to access content to provide alternative access as appropriate.  

Additional Information & Related Documents

Interpretation & Revision

Any questions of interpretation regarding this policy shall be referred to Marketing & Communications. They will be the final authority regarding the interpretation of this policy.

This policy shall be reviewed every three years; however, minor changes and updates can be made at any time.  

Wentworth will typically apply the policy in place at the time it receives a report concerning the respected policy.

Additionally, in instances where two or more policies are implicated, a case-by-case determination will be made to determine what policy will be used. 

Review and Revision History

This policy was drafted by representatives from Marketing & Communications, the Department of Technology Services, the Advancing, Teaching, Learning, and Scholarship (ATLAS) Center, and the Digital Accessibility Sub-Committee.  It was reviewed by Cabinet and approved by the President on April 26, 2023.  

This Policy codifies existing statements and practices.

This Policy was updated on 7/28/2026