Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

When are the listening sessions?
- There will be in person listening sessions beginning on Monday, February 26 through Wednesday, February 28.
- You can attend via Zoom if you are unable to attend in person.
- There will likely also be Zoom-based meetings after February 28 to help accommodate people’s schedules.
How can I request an accommodation to attend a listening session?
- UCSC strives to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals, including individuals with disabilities, to engage fully. To request an accommodation at an upcoming listening session or for inquiries about accessibility, please contact Jim Phillips.
Do you have to be invited to attend a listening session?
- No. While the listening sessions will have specific themes to guide the discussion (e.g., learning and teaching), you are welcome to attend. Register for an upcoming listening session will be posted soon.
If I can neither attend a listening session live or via Zoom, will I still be able to provide my input?
- Yes. You can submit your feedback without attending a Zoom or in-person meeting. A link to provide your feedback will be available soon.

Why develop a strategic plan for digital accessibility?
- Gaps remain between our aspirations (and legal obligations) for barrier-free access and the actual experience that people have in using UCSC’s digital environments.
- We know it’s important to periodically assess the current state of our services and support. We also need to define a roadmap to make coordinated progress campus-wide.
- To date, UCSC has never actually engaged in a strategic planning effort specifically for digital accessibility.
- Recent legal action at other higher education institutions underscores the very real potential for costly legal action against higher education institutions who fail to comply with federal and state law.
How did UCSC select Access4All?
- In mid 2023, a steering committee that included staff from both UCSC and UCOP was formed.
- They developed a statement of work and shared it with prospective businesses who engage in this type of assessment. Several of those businesses responded by the deadline with proposals for consideration.
- The steering committee then scored and discussed the submitted proposals.
- Access4All was selected and contract negotiations were successfully completed in the fall of 2023.
- The contract that resulted is a “CalUSource” agreement that can be used by any UC campus, CSU, or California Community College should other institutions wish to engage Access4All in a similar assessment.