Web Accessibility Policy
Purpose
Pepperdine University has always been committed to providing equal, or effectively equal, access for all students, faculty and staff members, and campus visitors to its programs, activities, and facilities. The purpose of this Policy is to clarify Pepperdine's commitment to provide equal, or effectively equal, access for all users of its official web resources. Official Pepperdine web resources include, but are not limited to, websites, web applications, and digital media delivered through the web to conduct University business or academic activities. Web resources also include those purchased from or delivered by vendors. This Policy does not apply to personal web resources published by faculty, staff, or students, or web resources for non-University organizations hosted on campus, that are not used to conduct University business or academic activities.
This Policy aligns with:
Our commitment, as outlined in the University Strategic Plan, for a hospitable welcome that affirms the worth of the individual and the dignity of the individual;
Goal 1 of the University Strategic Plan to advance student learning and superior scholarship and Goal 4 to increase institutional diversity consistent with our mission; and
The University's legal obligations under applicable law, including Section 504 of
the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act
of 1990.
Standards
Pepperdine utilizes the World Wide Web Consortium's (W3C) technical standards for achieving accessibility under this Policy. Specifically, Pepperdine strives to measure compliance against the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, Level AA and Web Accessibility Initiative Accessible Rich Internet Applications Suite (WAI-ARIA) 1.1 techniques for web content. Though not required by law, these guidelines shall be referred to collectively as the "Accessibility Standards" in this Policy.
Information Technology, Integrated Marketing Communications, and all academic areas
and administrative departments shall be required to retroactively improve and create
sites in compliance with WCAG 2.1, Level AA guidelines. If Pepperdine becomes aware
that institutional websites created by vendors, faculty, staff, or students that are
maintained outside the official Pepperdine University website, and not monitored or
controlled by the University, are in violation of this Policy, the website owner will
be notified to correct any compliance issues found. The University also maintains
a reporting page on its website to collect any such accessibility challenges that may be apparent
to its community.
Implementation
All new web resources, or revisions to existing web resource, are subject to this
Policy following its implementation date. Each academic area or administrative department
responsible for managing web resources shall regularly assess its current resources
and develop a plan for replacing or remediating existing web resources that do not
meet the Accessibility Standards as defined by this Policy within a reasonable period
of time.
Access and Training
Effective the implementation date of this Policy, all individuals who develop or publish
to University web resources shall participate in a required web accessibility compliance-training program for continued access to develop and publish web content on any Pepperdine domain.
Refresher training will be provided periodically. Failure to successfully complete
all required trainings may result in the suspension of an individual's ability to
develop and publish to University web resources.
Contracts
Each department at the University shall consider accessibility features when seeking
approval(s) to purchase technology, software, and other web-based services for use
by faculty, staff, and students. When evaluating the suitability and benefits of a
particular product, the accessibility (or non-accessibility) of the product shall
be evaluated and weighed by the appropriate manager prior to approving the purchase.
The University will strive to request vendors to demonstrate how the information technology
provided to the University conforms to or addresses each of the Accessibility Standards
wherever demonstrating such performance is practicable. Ultimately, the University
maintains complete discretion with regard to procurement decisions.
Exceptions
The University understands that exceptions to the Policy may be necessary when faculty
and staff discover that meeting the Accessibility Standards is not technically feasible
or may require extraordinary measures due to the nature of the information or the
purpose of the technology being used. Information Technology and Integrated Marketing
Communications, in collaboration with Office of the General Counsel and Office of
Student Accessibility, will assess whether satisfying the Accessibility Standards
will fundamentally alter the educational course or benefit at issue. Similarly, if
cost is at issue, these departments will determine whether it potentially constitutes
an undue burden to satisfy the Accessibility Standards. If there exists a technical
challenge to satisfying the Accessibility Standards, the University will strive to
provide equally effective alternative access to the extent practicable. A request
for an exception to this Policy must be submitted to Information Technology and/or
Integrated Marketing Communications for approval.
Complaints
Complaints related to the enforcement of this Policy should be addressed to the Office
of Student Accessibility, which can be reached at student.accessibility@theharbourdj.com.
Violations
Pepperdine web resources in violation of this Policy will be referred to Information
Technology or Integrated Marketing Communications for assistance with remediation
or replacement. Remediation may include removal of the resource until the resource
is able to demonstrate compliance with this Policy.
Policy Maintenance
This Policy is maintained jointly by Information Technology and Integrated Marketing Communications.