91�� Electronic and Information Technology (EIT) Accessibility Policy

Policy Information
Policy Title	91�� Electronic and Information Technology (EIT) Accessibility Policy
Responsible Office	Electronic Information Technology Accessibility Office
Policy Type	University libraries
Policy Number	307
Last Revision Date	9/29/2026

Scope of Policy

91�� is committed to promoting and providing an inclusive and welcoming digital environment. SUNY’s increased reliance on technology across operations, student support services, and instruction necessarily drives a need to ensure that everyone has equitable access to electronic information resources and technologies. This policy applies to University websites, applications, and all other digital content created, procured, or distributed by the University and its agents or affiliates.

Definitions

Electronic and information technologies (EIT): Information technology and any equipment or interconnected system or subsystem of equipment that is used in the creation, conversion, or duplication of data or information. EIT includes, but is not limited to, information resources such as the internet and intranet websites, content delivered in digital form, search engines and databases, learning management systems, management information systems, classroom technologies; web, computer, email and mobile-based applications allowing for interaction between software and users; and services employing information technology and telecommunications equipment.

91�� is committed to promoting and providing an inclusive and welcoming digital environment. SUNY’s increased reliance on technology across operations, student support services, and instruction necessarily drives a need to ensure that individuals with disabilities have equitable access to electronic information resources. This policy addresses accessibility in the development, procurement, and use of electronic and information technologies.

Policy Statement

In accordance with the University’s mission, as well as federal and state law (), 91�� will make electronic information such as websites, digital course materials, and library electronic resources accessible by adhering to the most current version of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, Conformance Level AA. Ensuring equal and effective access to electronic and information technologies is the responsibility of all University administrators, faculty, staff, and students [1].

Accessibility Standards and Procedures

General Standards

All digital content produced or distributed by 91�� will adhere to applicable accessibility standards for documents, web pages, and multimedia as defined by , meeting or exceeding the version and level required by applicable law. Digital content includes but is not limited to:

Academic course materials.
Content on any 91�� website.
Email.
Marketing materials produced for mass distribution.
Social media content produced by any 91�� organization.

The University will:

Adhere to the SUNY Electronic Information Technology Accessibility Guidelines;
Establish a campus Electronic Information Technology (EIT) accessibility action plan that will regularly be assessed and updated;
Develop, acquire, purchase, host, and/or use to the extent technically feasible, web pages, websites, hardware and software products and services that are accessible to persons with disabilities;
Communicate this Policy to all members of the University community, particularly those in roles responsible for developing, selecting, purchasing, or maintaining electronic content, applications, and technologies.

Specific Standards

The following are examples of WCAG accessibility requirements for documents, web pages and multimedia, summarized in non-technical language. The applicability of each of these requirements may vary depending on the type of media or type of content. This list has been simplified and is not all-inclusive. More guidance is available in 91��’s .

Text legibility

Text is legible, with sufficient size and spacing.

Color contrast

Text, links, and buttons have strong color contrast against the background.

Document structure

Heading styles (H1, H2, H3, etc.) are used to logically organize the content.
PDFs are properly organized with a tag structure.

Meaningful link text

Links are obvious and predictable, with distinct formatting and meaningful link text.

Use of color to convey information

Color alone can not be used to convey information, but is paired with text or icons/images.

Images

Images require a text alternative, which serves an equivalent purpose, except in specific circumstances such as purely decorative images.

Multimedia

Videos have accurate closed captions and text transcripts available.
Audio descriptions are provided for certain visual-only content in videos.
Text transcripts are provided for audio tracks or files.

Tables

Tables are formatted correctly, with table captions, header rows and/or columns as applicable.

Forms

Input fields have accurate labels.
On focus, the input field is highlighted visually.
Error messages are given in context and do not use color alone to indicate the issue.

Animation and flashing

Moving, blinking, and scrolling content can be paused, stopped, or hidden.
Nothing flashes more than three times in a one second period.

Keyboard navigation

Content can be accessed without the use of a mouse.
There is an obvious focus indicator when keyboard navigating through a page.

Resize text

Text can be resized up to 200% without loss of content or functionality.

Specific guidelines may be adopted for applying WCAG standards to certain kinds of content or media types, that are specific to the unique properties or usage of that content.

Procedures

All 91�� administrators, faculty, staff, and students are responsible for ensuring any content they create or distribute adheres to the standards.

See the for additional resources on making content accessible.

Implementation of the Policy

Senior University leadership will designate an Electronic Information Technology Accessibility Officer (EITO) responsible for the establishment of a campus accessibility action plan and corresponding implementation timeline. The EITO will be responsible for issuing, updating, and enforcing any requirements, standards or guidelines that support this Policy. It will be the responsibility of the EITO or their designate(s) to:

Establish policies and procedures that support our shared institutional intention to provide accessible online environments;
Develop strategies to incorporate accessibility into the creation, purchase and use of electronic information resources;
Develop plans, assign roles and responsibilities and implement procedures to execute strategies to achieve policy compliance;
Coordinate the creation of communication plans to promote and support the campus-wide EIT accessibility program;
Coordinate the development and delivery of training programs for campus personnel who create, purchase, use and maintain EIT;
Collaborate with Purchasing and other campus departments to ensure the acquisition of accessible EIT products and services;
Continually monitor and assess 91��’s EIT Program and develop and implement warranted modifications.

Compliance

Compliance with accessibility policy will be coordinated and assessed through a number of means:

A communication strategy including presentations to faculty and staff to inform them of their obligations and to explain how to make documents accessible.
Making available technologies that employees can use to check document accessibility and to correct certain accessibility problems.
Providing options for document remediation for certain accessibility problems that are difficult for individuals to correct.
Working with Communications and Marketing to ensure broad default accessibility of university web content through default styles and formatting in the university’s content management system.
Periodic auditing of web content, including tracking of course material uploaded to the university’s Learning Management System (LMS).

Owing to the diversity of documents and materials used in both teaching, scholarship and administration of a university, it is necessary to determine how accessibility standards apply to many different kinds of documents and content. The EIT officer will determine how accessibility standards are met for different kinds of digital content, soliciting expertise from faculty and staff. The EITO will consider factors such as the nature of the content or media type, the nature of its use, and available options for remediation.

Upon a written complaint by an individual who is unable to access specific University provided content, either the requested content must be remediated to conform to applicable standards, or the requested content must be made available in an alternative format in a timely manner. The unit responsible for the creation and maintenance of the content on the specific website is responsible for making it accessible or providing an alternative.

The EITO, working with the Technology Accessibility Advisory Group (TAAG), may require that some or all non-conforming university electronic information be brought into conformance by designated staff or suppliers. 91�� Information Technology Services or Office of Communications & Marketing may be asked to remove non-conforming content until it can be brought into conformance or require a unit/department/organization to cease using a particular third-party service provider until the provider’s product or service is in conformance.

The Technology Accessibility Advisory Group

Senior University Leadership has established the TAAG to advise and make recommendations to the EITO, including on the development of a prioritization schedule for improving accessibility on University websites or electronic content. (i.e., priority shall be given to the most highly trafficked sites and to those that contain core institutional information.) The TAAG, at the direction of and in coordination with the EITO shall periodically review this Policy, its associated procedures, and the governance model and, as appropriate, recommend changes. The review will help ensure that the Policy continues to align with the University’s mission, including its commitment to accessibility.

External Links

[1] Based in part on Harvard University Digital Accessibility Policy, Harvard University Digital Accessibility Policy consulted February 25, 2020.

	Description	Responsible Party
8/21/2024	Added information on captioning with link to resources. Update approved by Senior Officers Group 7/16/2024.	Center for Learning and Teaching
9/29/2026	Policy rewritten to reflect current process. Approved by Senior Officers Group on 9/29/2026.	Center for Learning and Teaching

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