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UCO Receives Multiple Awards for Dedication to Digital Accessibility

Sept. 18, 2024

The University of Central Oklahoma’s Digital Accessibility Coalition (DAC) was recently recognized with three awards for its dedication to digital accessibility and its digital accessibility micro-credential course.

The DAC received a BRONZE United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA) Trendsetter Award for Innovative Impact. The USDLA was the first nonprofit, distance-learning association in the United States to support distance-learning research, development and praxis across education, training and communications.

The Oklahoma Council for Online Learning Excellence (COLE) presented the DAC with the 2024 Oklahoma Online Excellence Award (OOEA) for Accessibility.

COLE is a framework that grows knowledge networks and advances collaborative initiatives that enhance student, faculty and institutional success and provides resources for supporting diverse missions of state institutions. The OOEA were established in 2017 to formally recognize individuals and teams for excellent work in online or hybrid learning.

The third award presented to DAC was the Anthology 2024 Catalyst Award, in the Training and Professional Development category.

Anthology is a leading provider of education solutions used worldwide, including at UCO. The Catalyst Awards recognize and honor those driving innovation and excellence within higher education across eight categories. The winners are selected by a cross-functional team of industry experts. This year, 35 winners were selected from 108 nominees from institutions across 19 countries.

“The UCO Digital Accessibility Coalition is honored to have received these awards, which recognize our efforts to make our overall digital presence accessible to everyone,” said Darren Denham, assistant director of accessibility at UCO. 

“We hope to continue to expand the knowledge of our faculty, staff and students on creating great online experiences for all through our now award-winning, micro-credential program.”

UCO’s DAC offers a digital accessibility micro-credential course that offers participants foundational knowledge of web and document accessibility principles and provides an overview of important web-accessibility concepts suitable for both technical and nontechnical users. As a result of this course, participants can apply foundational knowledge of digital accessibility to everyday practice.

The UCO DAC aims to create a network of Digital Accessibility Champions who represent their work unit in a campuswide movement to promote the procurement, development and use of Information and Communication Technology that is accessible and inclusive to everyone, but particularly to students, faculty and staff with disabilities.

For more information on UCO’s DAC, visit www.uco.edu/academic-affairs/cece/digital-accessibility.

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Devan Wielgos

Devan Wielgos

Communications and Marketing Coordinator, UCO University Communications

Cutline: The University of Central Oklahoma was recognized with three awards—a BRONZE United States Distance Learning Association Trendsetter Award for Innovative Impact; the Anthology 2024 Catalyst Award, in the Training and Professional Development category; and, the Oklahoma Council for Online Learning Excellence award. Pictured, left to right, Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education (OSRHE) Chancellor Allison D. Garrett; Tracy Fairless, director of eLearning at UCO; Darren Denham, assistant director of digital accessibility at UCO; and, Regent Jack Sherry, OSRHE.

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About University of Central Oklahoma

The University of Central Oklahoma is a campus community in motion—leading, innovating and creating transformative learning opportunities that foster success for our students. As Oklahoma’s largest metropolitan university, we provide high-quality, nationally recognized programs that are always evolving and adapting to the needs of our students and the community. This commitment is rooted in our founding in 1890 as the state’s teacher’s college, training those who would educate the next generation of leaders and innovators. We remain dedicated to offering an accessible, affordable education, earning national accolades for social mobility, veterans’ outreach and first-generation student programs.

Guided by the motto “ubi motus est” – which translates to “where movement is” – the university continues to evolve and grow, offering 119 undergraduate and 81 graduate programs to our more than 12,000 students from our main campus in Edmond, Oklahoma, and facilities throughout the Oklahoma City metro. Our colors were the first adopted of any university in the state, and our Bronze and Blue symbolize our greatest strengths—the illumination of new ideas and the endless expanse of a clear sky above. At UCO, anything is possible.

The university is governed by the Regional University System of Oklahoma Board of Regents and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

Contact

100 North University Drive Edmond, OK 73034

405-974-2307

ucomm@uco.edu

www.uco.edu