The CLAS Accessibility Taskforce is sharing a brief update on progress and expectations as the university’s digital accessibility compliance deadline approaches.

Progress to date

Instructional spaces (ICON)

Across CLAS, substantial progress is underway in instructional spaces. College‑wide Anthology Ally scores in ICON have improved by nearly 20 percentage points over the past year. This reflects sustained effort by instructors to review course materials, address common issues (such as headings, document structure, and alternative text), and remove or replace outdated files.

Accessibility efforts are focused on current instruction. ICON courses more than one year old are considered archived and do not require remediation. Courses from the current and upcoming semesters should be prioritized.

Administrative and public web spaces

In administrative and public-facing web spaces, departments have completed an initial inventory of digital assets and are actively identifying content owners, prioritizing materials, and determining whether materials should be remediated, archived, or removed. Many units have found that removing outdated PDFs and pages is an effective first step that reduces both risk and workload.

Scope and expectations

To help focus effort where it matters most, accessibility work should prioritize:

• Largest‑enrollment courses and materials used by many students
• Highest‑trafficked public websites and pages with broad visibility

All non‑archived digital content is considered in scope at the compliance deadline. Prioritization is intended to help units focus effort strategically, not to suggest that some in‑scope content can be ignored.

Consistent with guidance from the Provost, the Taskforce has not set numerical targets for instructional materials. The expectation is demonstrated, good‑faith progress toward accessibility, with attention to materials that have the greatest impact.

For public-facing websites, a 94% accessibility score has been a long-standing institutional target. Units should continue working toward this goal while documenting progress and remediation decisions.

Accessibility work is iterative. The deadline is intended to reinforce momentum and accountability, recognizing that accessibility improvement is an ongoing responsibility.

Resources available

Support remains available across campus and within CLAS.

Instructional materials (ICON)

OTLT offers trainings, open office hours, and consultations on course accessibility, Anthology Ally, PDF remediation, and solutions for complex content (including LaTeX and MathJax).

Web and administrative content

Siteimprove is available for public‑facing websites and provides actionable guidance. CLAS Marketing & Communications and CLAS Technology Services can direct units to appropriate documentation, particularly for non‑MarCom‑managed sites. Learn more about the process for the sites in your unit on the CLAS Resource website.

General guidance

The Accessibility at Iowa website consolidates standards, FAQs, and practical guidance for creating accessible digital content. Units are encouraged to prioritize high‑impact content, document progress, and seek support early.

Looking ahead

The CLAS Accessibility Taskforce will continue to share updates, clarify guidance as it evolves, and coordinate with campus partners. Thank you for the continued effort taking place across CLAS. This work supports our students, strengthens our digital materials, and reduces long‑term burden.