In this episode we'll hear from Michelle Newhart, Instructional Designer, that features a Spring Flex Day Session that she originally presented with Hugo Aguilera, Applications Training Specialist called Accessibility By Design-Preparing Accessible Courses to Meet ADA Title II Deadline. The session focuses on why accessibility matters, what the April 2026 deadline means for Mt. SAC, and how accessibility in Canvas is crucial to meeting this deadline.

Some of the themes that are explored are the difference between accessibility and accommodations, how meeting the deadline can be approached in a manageable way, and how the main priority is to make actively used digital content more accessible.

The ADA Title II deadline is not just a legal requirement but related to our commitment to DEISA+ (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Social Justice, and Access Plus). This work is important in creating an equitable and just learning environment for all students, and not just for those without disabilities.

We hope the session helps you get a clearer sense of the deadline, as well as what compliance involves, and helpful pointers on how to take small steps towards accessibility in your Canvas course shells. Enjoy!

Resources:

ADA Title II 2026 Regulation Changes: Documentation, Training and Other Resources, Collected by Members of the California Community Colleges Council of Chief Librarians

https://www.mtsac.edu/accessibility/ Mt SAC's accessibility website

https://mtsac.instructure.com/courses/96251 Canvas Hub called "Faculty Accessibility Center" available to Mt SAC Faculty only (requires log-in).

https://mtsac.instructure.com/enroll/9R7PTJ Canvas Course called "Accessibility Challenge" again only accessible by Mt SAC Faculty. Meant to help us meet the deadline.

Run Time: 52 min, 25 sec

To Find the full transcript for this episode click HERE

If you're like many faculty, you've probably noticed the sharp increase in courses being offered online. This shift into the online learning space, especially after the pandemic, has made it possible for students to learn in more ways than just sitting in a classroom. It opens the door for students balancing work, family, and other responsibilities, but it has also brought new challenges for faculty as we think about how to design engaging and effective courses.

Thankfully, here at Mt. SAC we have a small but dedicated team called the Faculty Center for Learning Technology, or FCLT. In this episode we talk with them about course design tools, video options, and strategies that help make online and hybrid learning work well for students.

While teaching online can be challenging, it is also worth the effort when it expands access and supports student success. The FCLT team also invites faculty to stop by, connect, and take advantage of the support they offer.

Resources:

Canvas Faculty Center: https://mtsac.instructure.com/enroll/RLCAAP

FCLT Website: https://www.mtsac.edu/fclt/

FCLT Appointment Maker: https://outlook.office365.com/book/FCLTMichelle@mtsac.edu

Accessibility Canvas Center: http://bit.ly/MtSAC-Fast5

Canvas Studio Guide: https://community.instructure.com/en/kb/canvas-studio-guide

Cidi Labs Guide: https://www.mtsac.edu/studio13/dlmd/canvas_themes_templates.html

Run time: 18 min, 08 sec

To Find the full transcript for this episode click HERE

In our ever-evolving work to increase access to college education, Mt. SAC is one of seven California Community Colleges to pilot a new learning modality, Direct Assessment Competency-Based Education, or CBE. Through Mt. SAC's Chancellor's office approved and ACCJC accredited CBE program students will be able to earn an AA in Kinesiology at their own pace. CBE is outcomes-based so students learn and then demonstrate their knowledge and abilities through direct assessment. Although the modality and assessments are different, the classes and the rigor are the same.

In today's episode we are joining Mike Hood, Astronomy Professor and CBE Faculty Lead, Lani Ruh, Co-Coordinator Kinesiology Professor, and Eva Figueroa Morales, Instructional Designer, at their Spring Flex Day session, to learn more about this new modality and the opportunities it offers for those who have not been able to fit traditional classes into their lives.

Resources:

California Community College Chancellor's Office, (2025). Direct Assessment Competency-Based Education. "DA CBE aims to create equitable access to educational pathways and career opportunities. It accommodates diverse abilities, and backgrounds through flexibly-paced learning that focuses on what students know and can do rather than the time spent in the classroom."

California Community College Chancellor's Office, (2025). Direct Assessment: Competency-Based Education, Implementation Blueprint. Resource co-developed with eight early innovator colleges to support the design and implementation of direct assessment CBE programs across California.

Competency-Based Education Network

Access guides, research, case studies, and blogs on CBE.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• DA-CBE Update 5/8/2025 Academic Senate Meeting

Run time: 35 min, 13 sec

To Find the full transcript for this episode click HERE