Mines Technology Accessibility Plan

Quarterly Updates

The Colorado School of Mines is committed to providing equitable access to our information and communication technology. Our ongoing efforts work towards ensuring that all Mines services, programs, and activities are accessible.  

To help accomplish this, Mines has created a plan to prioritize, evaluate, remediate and continuously improve the accessibility of all information and communication technologies used in our services, programs, and activities. This report details the progress Mines has made in the last three months.  

Questions? Contact accessibility@mines.edu or visit the Mines Accessibility Statement for more information. 

Digital Accessibility Standards

Mines uses the following legal and technical standards to help measure the accessibility of our information and communication technology.

    Mines also uses manual testing and feedback from users to help identify when accessibility barriers are present. If you encounter a barrier in our technology or want to share accessibility feedback, contact us using the digital accessibility issue form or call the IT Service Desk at 303-278-4357.

    October 1, 2024

    Progress report for July – September 2024

    Completed activities

    Implement new web accessibility scanning tool on current website
    • Mines has selected the Pope Tech website scanning tool to scan web pages for WCAG 2.1 AA conformance.
    • A contractor has been hired to make accessibility improvements to existing Mines websites based on errors identified in scans. This quarter, the contractor made improvements to 15 sites to bring them into WCAG 2.1 AA conformance.
    • Two student workers are also actively updating pages to bring them into WCAG 2.1 AA conformance.
    • Web content editor accessibility best practices are now included in mandatory web training for new users.

    In-progress activities

    Hire and onboard full-time Section 504 Coordinator
    • Applications close soon for the role of Assistant Director of the Office of Institutional Equity, who will serve as the primary ADA/Section 504 liaison at Mines.
    Update procurement processes
    • The updated Request for Proposal (RFP) template now includes CO state accessibility requirements language.
    • Accessibility documentation submitted in response to RFPs is evaluated during the selection process.
    • Accessibility requirements language has been developed for contracts and Procurement is working on integrating that language into new technology contracts.
    Update IT software review processes
    • Work has begun on updating IT software review processes to gather more accessibility information and create exception documentation and alternative access plans when needed.

    July 1, 2024

    Progress report for April – June 2024

    Completed activities

    • Mines has completed the following activities in the first three months of developing and implementing a technology accessibility plan.
    Executive sponsors
    • Identified executive sponsors for IT accessibility: Andrew Moore, CIO and Natalie Vega, Executive Director of Compliance, Policy & Risk Management.
    Accessibility statement
    • Developed an updated Accessibility Statement with information about how to request accommodations and report barriers in information and communication technology, including non-digital contact information and information about typical response and resolution times.
    • All Mines websites link to the Accessibility Statement in the footer.
    Accommodation requests
    • Clarified the process and contact information for members of the public to request accommodations or report barriers in ICT. These requests go to the Section 504 Coordinator in the Office for Institutional Equity (OIE). The Section 504 Coordinator will facilitate resolution and keep records of accessibility requests, complaints, and feedback.
    • Students will continue to contact Disability Support Services for accommodations.
    • Employees, including student employees, will continue to contact Human Resources for accommodations.
    Report digital accessibility issues to IT
    • Updated the process to report digital accessibility issues to IT with digital and non-digital contact information and a service level agreement.
    • IT will facilitate resolution of technology barriers and keep track of barriers reported.
    Website improvements
    • Completed a Request for Information for a new web content management system that can help enforce and manage accessibility compliance. The next step is to create a Request for Proposal.
    Technology Accessibility Plan
    • Formed a Digital Accessibility Roadmap Team to create a plan for improving information and communication technology accessibility at Mines.

    Formal approval

    • Andrew Moore, Chief Information Officer, Information Technology
    • Natalie Vega, Executive Director of Compliance, Policy & Risk Management, Office of Compliance and Policy