Distance learning allows students to pursue a higher education anywhere at any time. However, many distance learning courses may not be accessible to students with disabilities. When planning and developing a distance learning course, faculty and instructional designers should take into consideration design guidelines for assuring accessibility for students with disabilities. Faculty may contact their campus Disability Service Provider for more information.
Computers and Disabilities
Information about assistive technologies for faculty/staff
Web Accessibility
Information about web accessibility standards for faculty/staff
AccessDL
Do-It Center, University of Washington
Distance Education and Accessibility Resource Guide
National Assistive Technology Technical Assistance Partnership (NATTAP)
Guidelines for Accessible Distance Education
Georgia Tech Research on Accessible Distance Education
Intellectual property is the lifeblood of a university, and all members of the university community should respect the work of others inside and outside the academy. It is the policy of the University of Hawaiʻi to comply with Copyright Laws in their entirety. For example, software may not be duplicated or installed except in strict accordance with applicable licensing agreements. And University servers and networks may not be used to house or distribute unauthorized software, music, video or other information content.
Because copyright compliance in the digital age is complex, especially in an educational institution, the following comprehensive resources are suggested for further information. Many of them have links to additional sites with more information.
United States Copyright Office -- Official site, including the law, summaries, and federal activities in progress
Copyright Clearance Center – The Campus Guide to Copyright Compliance helps answer copyright questions found in the academic environment.
Crash Course in Copyright -- from the University of Texas System
Frequently Asked Legal Questions on Copyright and Distance Learning -- UNC Greensboro site with basic explanations and guidelines
Distance Education: Expanding the Classroom on the Internet -- from University Publishing, Washington State University
Recent federal guidelines regarding state authorizations of distance courses require institutions to accurately identify distance learning courses. Campus schedulers and secretaries should pay particular attention to the codings in the instructional method field when submitting schedule of courses each semester.
Instructional Method on SSASECT (dated 02-27-07), pdf file
Instructional Method Update (dated 08-02-11), pdf file