Title II Digital Accessibility Effort

Dear University of Maine and University of Maine at Machias communities,

I write to update you on the steps we will take to support the University of Maine
System’s Title II digital accessibility effort. In response to updated U.S. Department of
Justice regulations under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, all public
universities must meet WCAG 2.1 AA by April 24, 2026. This applies to all websites,
mobile apps, and the digital materials we share with students, employees, and our
communities. While compliance is a requirement, it is important to remember that this
effort is primarily about accessibility for all and ensuring student success.

A number of resources are being developed to support our work toward meeting our
obligations under Title II:

Title II Committee: A committee is being formed to support this effort and will be tasked
with providing regular updates and identifying resources needed to become compliant.

Training Materials: The University of Maine System website has accessibility
resources available, including training opportunities. The Title II Committee will also be
sharing additional resources to support you in this work.

Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning (CITL): CITL supports faculty in their
efforts to design and deliver accessible instructional materials. Find resources for
accessibility in the classroom here, including an FAQ for faculty.

UMaine.edu: Web accessibility training has been required for all umaine.edu editors
since January 1, 2024. If you are an editor and would like to refresh your knowledge on
this important subject, the online training “Designing Accessible Digital Content” is
available in UMS Academy. You may also contact the Division of Marketing &
Communications digital team at um.weboffice@maine.edu with specific questions about
your website.

Ally: UMS is in the process of licensing a new accessibility evaluation tool called “Ally.”
Fully integrated with Brightspace, Ally can detect certain common instances of
embedded materials which are not fully accessible and provide alternative formats or
feedback to instructors on how to modify their content.

We are committed to supporting this important System initiative to ensure every
member of our university community is provided with accessible content and materials.

Thank you for your time and attention to this critical work.

Sincerely,

Gabe Paquette
Interim Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost
University of Maine and University of Maine at Machias
5703 Alumni Hall, Suite 201 | Orono, ME 04469