ADA Compliance in Higher Education: What Institutions Need to Know

02/11/25 • 31 min

New Federal ADA Regulation Deadlines Are Approaching – Is Your Institution Ready?

Colleges and universities must now meet stricter ADA compliance requirements for websites and digital content or risk legal consequences, fines, and loss of federal funding. With the Department of Justice’s latest update to Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), institutions must ensure all web content, mobile apps, and digital resources meet WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility standards. For many schools, the deadline is approaching fast.

In this episode of Changing Higher Ed®, host Dr. Drumm McNaughton has a conversation with Eugene Woo, CEO and founder of Venngage, to discuss what these new ADA regulations mean for higher education institutions and what they must do to comply.

Understanding the New ADA Requirements for Higher Ed

The Department of Justice’s update to Title II clarifies long-standing accessibility expectations, removing ambiguity about digital compliance. Now, all institutions receiving federal funds—including financial aid, research grants, or disaster relief—must ensure their online content adheres to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1. AA

The key changes include:

Explicit standards for websites and mobile apps – Digital accessibility is no longer optional.
Clearer rules on compliance deadlines – Larger institutions (50,000+ students) must comply by April 2026, while smaller institutions have until April 2027.
Greater enforcement risks – ADA lawsuits have historically driven accessibility improvements, and these new regulations are meant to make institutions proactive rather than reactive.

Woo explains that many universities operate hundreds, if not thousands, of websites across different departments and programs, making compliance a daunting task.

Why ADA Compliance Matters for Colleges and Universities Accessibility Isn’t Just a Legal Obligation—It’s a Universal Design Best Practice

Woo highlights that designing for accessibility benefits everyone, not just individuals with disabilities. Features like captions for videos were initially created for the hearing impaired but are now widely used by all viewers.

The Biggest Accessibility Challenges for Higher Ed Websites

According to WebAIM’s annual survey of the top one million websites, these are the most common accessibility issues:

Missing alt text for images – Over 50% of homepage images lack descriptions, making content inaccessible to screen readers.
Poor form accessibility – Online forms frequently lack proper labels, creating barriers for those using assistive technology.
Non-descriptive links and buttons – Generic link text (e.g., “Click here”) makes navigation difficult for screen reader users.
Inaccessible PDFs – Many course materials, syllabi, and administrative documents are in PDF format but lack proper tagging and readability.
Color contrast issues – Up to 20% of men have some form of color blindness, yet many websites fail to meet the contrast requirements.

3. What Institutions Should Prioritize First

Given the scale of most universities’ digital footprints, Woo recommends:

Conducting an ADA compliance audit to identify accessibility gaps.
Prioritizing high-traffic pages and critical student services for remediation.
Implementing universal design principles in new content to prevent future accessibility issues.

How Universities Can Ensure ADA Compliance Designating Leadership Responsibility

Presidents and institutional leaders must appoint a compliance officer or team responsible for ensuring accessibility across all digital platforms. Without clear ownership, accessibility efforts can fall through the cracks.

Leverage AI and Automated Accessibility Tools for ADA Compliance

Woo notes that institutions can use AI-powered tools to scan websites for accessibility violations and assist in remediation. Some platforms can even auto-correct PDFs and web pages to bring them closer to WCAG 2.1 standards.

Budgeting for Digital Accessibility Compliance

Compliance isn’t just a policy issue—it requires financial investment. Schools must allocate resources for accessibility audits, technology upgrades, and training to ensure long-term compliance.

Three Key Takeaways for Higher Education Leaders

Determine whether your institution must comply—and by when Institutions receiving any federal funding must meet the new standards, with large universities facing an April 2026 deadline.
Appoint a leader or team to oversee accessibility compliance Without clear accountability, compliance efforts will st...

New Federal ADA Regulation Deadlines Are Approaching – Is Your Institution Ready?

Understanding the New ADA Requirements for Higher Ed

The key changes include:

Explicit standards for websites and mobile apps – Digital accessibility is no longer optional.
Clearer rules on compliance deadlines – Larger institutions (50,000+ students) must comply by April 2026, while smaller institutions have until April 2027.
Greater enforcement risks – ADA lawsuits have historically driven accessibility improvements, and these new regulations are meant to make institutions proactive rather than reactive.

Woo explains that many universities operate hundreds, if not thousands, of websites across different departments and programs, making compliance a daunting task.

Why ADA Compliance Matters for Colleges and Universities Accessibility Isn’t Just a Legal Obligation—It’s a Universal Design Best Practice

The Biggest Accessibility Challenges for Higher Ed Websites

According to WebAIM’s annual survey of the top one million websites, these are the most common accessibility issues:

Missing alt text for images – Over 50% of homepage images lack descriptions, making content inaccessible to screen readers.
Poor form accessibility – Online forms frequently lack proper labels, creating barriers for those using assistive technology.
Non-descriptive links and buttons – Generic link text (e.g., “Click here”) makes navigation difficult for screen reader users.
Inaccessible PDFs – Many course materials, syllabi, and administrative documents are in PDF format but lack proper tagging and readability.
Color contrast issues – Up to 20% of men have some form of color blindness, yet many websites fail to meet the contrast requirements.

3. What Institutions Should Prioritize First

Given the scale of most universities’ digital footprints, Woo recommends:

Conducting an ADA compliance audit to identify accessibility gaps.
Prioritizing high-traffic pages and critical student services for remediation.
Implementing universal design principles in new content to prevent future accessibility issues.

How Universities Can Ensure ADA Compliance Designating Leadership Responsibility

Leverage AI and Automated Accessibility Tools for ADA Compliance

Budgeting for Digital Accessibility Compliance

Compliance isn’t just a policy issue—it requires financial investment. Schools must allocate resources for accessibility audits, technology upgrades, and training to ensure long-term compliance.

Three Key Takeaways for Higher Education Leaders

Determine whether your institution must comply—and by when Institutions receiving any federal funding must meet the new standards, with large universities facing an April 2026 deadline.
Appoint a leader or team to oversee accessibility compliance Without clear accountability, compliance efforts will st...

Previous Episode

The Glass Cliff in Higher Education: Challenges Faced by Women University Presidents

According to recent ACE presidential survey data, women now constitute 33% of university presidencies, yet a troubling pattern has emerged: these leaders are often appointed during times of institutional crisis, creating what researchers call "the glass cliff" phenomenon.

In this episode of Changing Higher Ed®, Dr. Lori Varlotta, former president of Hiram College and California Lutheran University and current Distinguished Professor of Higher Education Leadership at Cal Lutheran, shares insights from her research on the glass cliff phenomenon in higher education. Drawing from her first research sabbatical in 40 years, she explores how women presidents are often hired during periods of institutional vulnerability and what can be done to ensure their success.

The glass cliff differs significantly from the well-known glass ceiling concept. While the glass ceiling refers to invisible barriers preventing women from reaching top leadership positions, the glass cliff describes a phenomenon where women are specifically recruited for leadership roles during times of institutional crisis or vulnerability. In higher education, this vulnerability typically manifests as enrollment declines, decreasing net tuition revenue, grant funding challenges, or cultural crises.

Dr. Varlotta's research reveals that women presidents face unique obstacles when leading institutional turnarounds, often facing implicit bias, gender-based generalizations about their performance, and disproportionate scrutiny of their appearance and leadership style through gender-charged reporting.

Key Takeaways for Prospective University Presidents and Boards

1. Due Diligence: Carefully assess whether the campus truly wants the bold, transparent leadership they claim to seek during the hiring process. Engage in extensive conversations with the board to ensure alignment between stated goals and actual support.

2. Resource Commitment: Secure essential resources before accepting the position, including PR support, crisis communication expertise, and a dedicated board committee willing to serve as change management partners.

3. Gender-Charged Reporting: Be prepared for heightened scrutiny of appearance, mannerisms, and communication style. As highlighted in the research, women leaders often face disproportionate attention to non-performance factors compared to their male counterparts.

As higher education faces continuing challenges, understanding and addressing the glass cliff phenomenon becomes increasingly essential for institutional success. Dr. Varlotta's research highlights the importance of careful preparation, adequate support systems, and recognition of the unique challenges faced by women leaders in academic turnaround situations.

Read the transcript on our website: https://changinghighered.com/the-glass-cliff-in-higher-education-challenges-faced-by-women-university-presidents/

#GlassCliff #UniversityGovernance #HigherEdLeadership

About Our Podcast Guest

For four decades, Lori Varlotta, Ph.D., has held leadership positions at universities large and small, public and private, faith-based and secular, stand-alone and system-embedded. For 20+ years, she has served at the executive level: Senior VP at Sacramento State and President at Hiram College (OH) and California Lutheran University. In both presidencies, Varlotta was the first woman at the institution to hold the post. At each, she was recruited to lead systemic changes to reposition the institution for the future. Along with the turnaround and repositioning work for which she is known, Varlotta contributes routinely to national conversations and publications on student success, systemic change, integrated planning and budgeting, curricular and co-curricular prioritization, shared governance, and DEIJ. As a first-generation college student, she is grateful for the educational opportunities she has experienced. She credits her blue-collar family and community, however, for teaching her life’s most important lessons.

Connect with Lori Varlotta on LinkedIn →

About the Podcast Host

Dr. Drumm McNaughton is the founder, CEO, and Principal Consultant at

Next Episode

Top Risks in Higher Education and Why Leaders Must Have ERM Programs

Justin Kollinger, Senior Risk Management Consultant at United Educators (UE), brings valuable perspective in helping colleges and universities develop strategic risk initiatives. As co-author of "Risk Management: An Accountability Guide for University and College Boards" and creator of UE's annual Top 10 Risks report, Kollinger works with institution leaders to develop strategic risk initiatives, prioritize risk management goals, and launch enterprise risk management programs.

Higher Ed's Current Risk & Liability Environment

The higher education sector faces what United Educators calls "social inflation" - increases in insurance costs above regular inflation. This trend is driven by:

Increased third-party litigation financing
Growing recruitment of plaintiffs to bring cases
Rising defense costs
Higher settlements and awards

Top Risks in Higher Education

McNaughton and Kollinger discuss these top risks revealed in the UE's annual survey:

Enrollment
Data Security
Operational Pressures
Recruitment and Hiring
Regulatory and Legal Compliance
Student Mental Health
Funding
Facilities and Deferred Maintenance
Public Safety
Three-way tie:
- General Premises Safety
- Title IX
- Political and Societal Pressures

Notable findings include the consistency of the top seven risks over the past three years despite 2024's tumultuous environment. Surprisingly, climate change and environmental risks did not make the top ten despite increasing natural disasters affecting campuses nationwide.

Enterprise Risk Management in Higher Education

Dr. McNaughton noted that only about 5% of institutions have formalized risk management programs. Both experts emphasized that when creating strategic plans, institutions must include risk management planning, or they leave themselves exposed. Risk management should distinguish between:

University Level: Risk management and identification
Board Level: Risk oversight and appropriate questioning

Data Security Challenges

The conversation highlighted growing concerns about data security:

Rising costs for data breach coverage
Need for centralized IT management
Growing sophistication of phishing attempts with AI
Importance of comprehensive security training

Three Takeaways for University Presidents and Boards

Culture of Risk Management ("Cool Head, Warm Heart")

Manage risk with thoughtful foresight and consistent policies
Show care to your community before, during, and after incidents
Focus on building trust through demonstrated care and communication

Elevate Your Risk Manager

Risk managers often know everything happening on campus
They have unique problem-solving tools
They should be positioned as strategic contributors
If you don't have a risk manager, get one

Use Third-Party Experts

Take advantage of insurer resources (like UE's checklists and online courses)
Utilize insurance broker resources
Access association resources and experts
Remember these experts are part of your support ecosystem

Kollinger's insights emphasize that while establishing risk management programs may seem daunting, having basic frameworks in place can help institutions better prepare for and respond to various challenges. His message underscores the importance of both strategic thinking and demonstrated care in building effective risk management programs.

The changing landscape of higher education requires leaders to remain vigilant in their approach to risk management, making it an essential component of institutional strategy and governance.

#HigherEducation #HigherEducationRiskManagement #HigherEducationPodcast

Read the transcript on our website: https://changinghighered.com/top-risks-in-higher-education-erm-programs/

Links to Resources: