Web Accessibility Policy

This policy applies to web content on https://www.hope.edu/ (“Web Content”). Web Content produced by our organization will meet W3C WAI WCAG 2.0 Level AA.

Reason for Policy

Hope affirms the dignity of every person as a creature made in the image of God and thus worthy of our earnest respect and inclusion. Additionally, as a recipient of Federal financial assistance, we work to comply with all related Federal laws. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. § 794, and its implementing regulation at 34 C.F.R. Part 104, prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability.

Entities Affected by this Policy

This policy applies to all persons producing or updating Web Content. Additionally, Hope employees responsible for partnership with third-party Web Content providers will ensure those providers are aware of and will abide by our web accessibility policy. Hope will also favor providers based on their stated ability to meet the terms of this policy.

Who Should Read this Policy

• Students
• Prospective Students
• Employees
• Applicants
• Independent Contractors
• Vendors
• Board of Trustee Members
• Guests and Visitors
• Persons with Disabilities

Related Documents

• Expense and Resource Stewardship Policy

Contacts

• Policy Owner: Web Accessibility Coordinator
• Complaints/Concerns: Equal Opportunity and Compliance Coordinator

Definitions

Accessible – for the purposes of this policy, means a person with a disability is afforded the opportunity to acquire the same Web Content, engage in the same interactions, and enjoy the same services as a person without a disability in an equally effective and equally integrated manner, with substantially equivalent ease of use. A person with a disability must be able to obtain the Web Content as fully, equally, and independently as a person without a disability. Although this might not result in identical ease of use compared to that of a person without disabilities, it still must ensure equal opportunity to the educational benefits and opportunities afforded by the Web Content and equal treatment in the use of such Web Content.

Web Content – for the purposes of this policy, Web Content refers to all pages housed at https://www.hope.edu. 

Procedures

Employees responsible for creating and/or updating Web Content will ensure that the Web Content is accessible as defined above.

To ensure that Web Content and information obtained through Web Content provided or developed by third parties is accessible, College employees will ensure that any College acquisition or use of Web Content provided or developed by third parties that the College chooses to make available via https://www.hope.edu/ will provide equal opportunity to the educational benefits and opportunities afforded by the technology and equal treatment in the use of such technology.

Web Content will be reviewed regularly using an accessibility checking tool. Accessibility checks will be incorporated into the publishing workflow for Web Content. Additionally, an audit will be completed at regular intervals. All items identified during the audit will be evaluated and, if necessary, remediated within a reasonable period of time.

The Web Accessibility Coordinator will coordinate and implement this policy. Employees responsible for creating and/or updating Web Content will be provided the opportunity for annual training.

Web Content will include a link to an email address (web@hope.edu) allowing users to submit feedback on the site; this information will be compiled and considered. Additionally, individuals who would like to file a formal complaint or report violations of this policy may do so by contacting the Equal Opportunity and Compliance Coordinator (and/or filling out the online form found at hope.edu/reportdiscrimination) or by contacting:

Web Accessibility Coordinator
100 E. 8th St. Holland MI 49423
616.395.7860
web@hope.edu

Forms

• Discrimination and Harassment Reporting Form

Effective Date

April 23, 2018