Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility

I. Purpose 

This policy established the standards for Electronic Information and Technology (EIT) accessible in compliance with application local, state, and federal regulation and laws.  Northeast Mississippi Community College is committed to providing equal access to its services, programs, and activities for all users. An accessible EIT environment enhances usability for everyone.

II. Policy 

The College adopts the World Wide Web Consortium’s standard: Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) version 2.1, Level AA as the minimum accessibility standard for all electronic information, and Guidance on applying WCAG 2.1 to Non-Web Information and Communications Technologies (WCAG2ICT). In addition, all electronic information shall comply with federal and state laws including the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), as amended, and Sections 504 and 508 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act, as amended.

III. Scope

This policy applies to all EIT acquired, developed, distributed, used, purchased, or implemented by or for the College and used to provide College programs, services, or activities. This includes but is not limited to all technology related to College business, academic and outreach, including web pages that represent the College, electronic documents and any multimedia created or obtained.

IV. Responsible Parties 

All administrators, instructors, or staff involved in the development and delivery of courses, programs or services through electronic information or technology must ensure access to everyone. 

V. Guidelines

1. Institutional Web Presence - All web content and systems developed or managed by Northeast Mississippi Community College must comply with current Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. Web Content Administrators are responsible for maintaining accessible content on their respective pages.  Information Technology Services will be responsible for identifying, correcting, and maintaining global accessibility errors.  ITS, the Office of Instruction, and the Office of eLearning has the authority to audit and request changes or remediation for any NEMCC managed web presence, create deadlines for compliance, and enforce those deadlines by removing non-compliant content from the CMS or LMS.
2. Instructional Materials - Instructional materials shall be compliant to the standard.  Instructional materials included, but are not limited to documents, syllabi, textbooks, presentations, handouts, electronic instructional materials delivered within the College’s learning management system, face-to-face classes, or an alternate method, and electronic instructional activities such as online collaborative writing, web conferencing, and other similar activities.
3. Procurement - All technology procured including business processes, software and applications should include an accessibility evaluation.

VI. Revisions

This policy is subject to revision. Questions related to this policy and any instructional materials should be addressed to the Director of Distance Education (LMS), or the Vice President of Instruction (LMS). All other questions should be addressed to the Director of Information Technology.