Digital Governance & Accessibility Council

The DGA Council ensures all digital content, including websites, online course materials, Moodle, ULink, virtual tours, PDFs, social media posts, multimedia, and mobile applications comply with WCAG 2.1 Level AA requirements by April 2026 per PPM 74. The Council will continue these efforts beyond the deadline of this requirement to ensure the University’s digital properties remain accessible at the highest level.

The DGA Council focuses its efforts in the following areas:

• Develop and implement university-wide digital accessibility policies and guidelines that align with PPM 74 and the state’s Web Accessibility Roadmap.
• Identify and address accessibility gaps in digital platforms, including websites, learning management systems, and mobile applications.
• Oversee the integration of accessibility best practices in new and existing digital content and software acquisitions.
• Facilitate education and support for faculty, staff, and web content creators to maintain compliance and promote inclusive digital design.
• Review and recommend accessible technology solutions that enhance the digital experience for all users, including those with disabilities.

While the Council provides guidance and oversight, all University staff, faculty, and instructors who produce or manage digital content are responsible for ensuring its accessibility. 

Governance Council Charge

The members of the DGA Council will:

• Conduct a comprehensive review of our current digital assets, including online courses, websites, applications, and other online platforms, to identify areas of non-compliance with ADA requirements.
• Collaborate with relevant institutional stakeholders, including ADA coordinators, digital content strategists, communications specialists, IT professionals, instructional designers, and legal advisors, to develop a strategic plan for addressing identified accessibility gaps.
• Implement a timeline and action plan to ensure timely compliance with upcoming changes to ADA requirements, taking into consideration any applicable deadlines and milestones.
• Establish ongoing monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to ensure sustained adherence to accessibility standards and to address any new developments or changes in regulations.
• Provide regular progress updates to the University leadership.
• Develop an institutional infrastructure that not only supports digital accessibility for those with registered disabilities but embraces universal learning design principles that benefit all University faculty, staff, and students.

DGA Council Structure

The Digital Governance & Accessibility Council is composed of representatives from key units, including IT, Communications and Marketing, Disability Services, Academic Affairs, Administration & Finance, HR, Athletics, and Student Affairs. Members are appointed based on their expertise in digital strategy, instructional design, technical implementation, and accessibility advocacy. 

DGA Council Members

The DGA Council shall consist of a representative of the following areas:  

• Project Sponsor – Associate Vice President for Communications and Marketing – Jennifer Stephens 
  Provides executive oversight, resource allocation, University leadership engagement, and risk management. Serves as primary accountability contact for state-level reporting and compliance monitoring.
• Project Sponsor – Chief Information Officer (CIO) – Gene Fields 
  Provides executive oversight, resource allocation, University leadership engagement, and risk management. Ensures integration with existing IT infrastructure and compliance with state policies.
• Chair/Digital Accessibility Coordinator – Aimée Abshire  
  Leads overall strategy and coordinates with areas during implementation.
• Digital Content Strategists – Aimée Abshire & Ashley McClure-French 
  Oversee University website content creation and messaging strategy to align with accessibility standards.
• University Legal Counsel – Lindsay Panteleo 
  Advises on legal risks, compliance, and accessibility-related liability.
• Director of Disability Services – Carol Landry 
  Provides expertise on user needs, accessibility testing, and accommodation requirements.
• Human Resources Representatives – Paul Thomas & Lanie Douet 
  Addresses training, communication, and staff resources related to accessibility.
• Distance Learning and Moodle Oversight – Claire Arabie & Francesco Crocco 
  Provides expertise in ensuring that Moodle aligns with accessibility standards by implementing accessible course design and faculty training.
• Faculty and Academic Representative – Chad Parker & Beth Giroir 
  Leads faculty development efforts to integrate accessibility best practices into course design and enforces policy implementation within academic units.
• Library Systems Administrator – Laurie Vanderbrook & Duke Meche 
  Ensures library resources, databases, and digital archives are accessible.
• Athletics Representative – Matt Sullivan 
  Ensures that all digital content, platforms, and communications within the Athletics department comply with accessibility standards.
• Student Affairs Representative – Margarita Perez & Greg Zerangue 
  Ensures that all digital content, platforms, and communications within the Athletics department comply with accessibility standards.
• Enrollment and Recruitment Representatives – Megan Sistrunk & Emily Covington-Guilory 
  Ensures that all digital content, platforms, and communications within prospective students and parents comply with accessibility standards.
• Finance, Procurement, and Travel – Angie Smith & Kristi Monte 
  Reviews third-party software and services for accessibility compliance. Manages approval processes to ensure all digital items are reviewed by the appropriate parties.
• Web Development/IT Representative – Matt Delcambre & Jeremy Schambaugh 
  Oversees technical implementation, testing, and remediation efforts.
• Systems Integration Architect – Russell Abshire 
  Ensure that all digital systems, platforms, and third-party services comply with accessibility standards; ensures the University’s mobile app meets requirements.
• Social Media and Multimedia – Amy Windsor 
  Ensure that all social media and multimedia content meet requirements.
• Advancement Representative – Lauren Shiver & Mark Delcambre 
  Ensure that digital platforms used for alumni engagement and donor relations meet accessibility standards and provide an inclusive experience for all users.  
• Auxiliary Representative – Duane Bailey 
  Ensure that all auxiliary-managed digital platforms, services, and third-party vendor tools meet accessibility standards and align with university-wide digital governance policies.
• Student Representatives – To be identified per semester 
  Provides a critical user perspective on the effectiveness of digital accessibility efforts.
• Other departments and offices as needed. 

Reporting & Accountability

The DGA Council is led by the University’s Web Accessibility Coordinator and reports to the AVP for Communications and Marketing, providing monthly updates on progress, challenges, and strategic recommendations for advancing digital accessibility. The Council also closely collaborates with the Office of Operational Review to ensure adherence to regulatory requirements and mitigate compliance risks.

Meetings

The Council will meet bi-weekly to review ongoing projects, assess digital assets for accessibility compliance, and recommend targeted improvements. Once the initial requirements are met by April 2026, the Council will meet monthly. Additional meetings may be scheduled as needed to address urgent accessibility issues or policy updates. 

Deliverables & Action Items

To address items defined in the Louisiana Web Accessibility Roadmap, the following steps and deliverables must be met by April 2026:

Step 1: Learn about the new requirements for web accessibility

The Web Accessibility Coordinator will facilitate training sessions for all council members and key stakeholders to review WCAG 2.1, PPM 74, and the DOJ final rule, ensuring comprehensive understanding of compliance requirements.

Step 2: Assign roles, including a Web Accessibility Coordinator

The Web Accessibility Coordinator will lead the development and implementation of a campus-wide communication plan, clearly defining roles, responsibilities, and expectations for each member of the Council.

Step 3: Ensure training completion by Web Accessibility Coordinator

The Council will provide ongoing training and resources to ensure all representatives are knowledgeable about WCAG standards and able to assist their respective units in implementing accessible design.

Step 4: Conduct an inventory of major web properties

OCM and IT representatives will complete a comprehensive inventory of all digital assets, documenting technical and content managers for each property by the June 30, 2025, deadline.

Step 5: Familiarize yourself with the Exceptions

Legal Counsel and Digital Content Strategists will collaborate to define and document content exceptions, including archived content, third-party content, and password-protected individualized documents, ensuring compliance with the DOJ rule.

Step 6: Test current content for accessibility

OCM and IT will coordinate campus-wide accessibility testing using automated tools and manual checks. Content will be categorized into ‘Remove,’ ‘Ignore,’ ‘Archive,’ or ‘Update’ for prioritized remediation.

Step 7: Develop an action plan

The Council will oversee the creation of a phased action plan, prioritizing critical content and high-traffic digital properties, and establishing timelines and accountability checkpoints.

Step 8: Work through the action plan

Each representative will implement accessibility updates in their designated area, with ongoing monitoring and reporting to the Council to track progress and adjust timelines as needed.

Step 9: Develop a status report

The Web Accessibility Coordinator will compile and distribute monthly status reports, detailing completed corrective actions, outstanding issues, and next steps for each digital asset, with a final report in May 2026.

Step 10: Submit the University's Web Accessibility Policy

The Council will draft and submit a comprehensive Web Accessibility Policy by March 31, 2026, outlining content standards, responsibilities, and procedures for ongoing monitoring and enforcement.

Step 11: Maintain the accessibility of digital content and systems

The Council will establish a sustainable framework for ongoing training, monitoring, and reporting to maintain accessibility compliance beyond the April 24, 2026 deadline.