Objective 1.3 Universal Design in Curriculum

College of the Desert (COD) ingrains universal design principles into curriculum development

Objective 1.3 Current Maturity Status: Learning to Responding

Level 1: Not Started to​ Learning

COD is increasing awareness among faculty by providing information about universal design principles.

  • 2017, College invited guest speaker to deliver workshop on Universal Design for Learning to train faculty and staff

  • ​Distance Education and Instructional Design Coordinator sends out informational emails and provides links to online resources on universal design principles

COD is dedicating resources and training support to faculty to support them in integrating universal design principles.

Immediate Next Steps​

  • College will designate funding for faculty and staff to attend conferences about integrating universal design principles

  • College will invite trainers to host FLEX sessions that introduce faculty and staff to universal design principles before each new term

Level 3: Responding ​to Establishing

COD is implementing a regularly defined and documented process by which all faculty are offered training in utilizing universal design principles. COD is exploring partnerships with faculty, Disabled Students Program and Services (DSPS), and Information Technology (IT), and the Library to promote and integrate universal design. COD is designating at least one instructional design staff member to support campus faculty with training for integrating universal design principles.

  • College is recruiting individuals from faculty, staff, DSPS, and IT to be part of a Universal Design Task Force

  • Task Force is meeting monthly to develop a training curriculum, scope, and sequence in which all faculty will be offered training

  • One or more members of the Task Force are receiving a yearly stipend to serve as an instructional design staff member

Level 4: Establishing ​​to Optimizing

COD is regularly evaluating efficacy of training process and making program improvements. COD is instituting documented accountability processes (i.e., regular meetings, agendas, recorded minutes) to increase efficacy of universal design partnerships.

  • College is paying for the Universal Design Task Force to receive ongoing training and supports in its curriculum development

  • Task Force is responding to questions and requests for support from faculty, and meeting regularly to assess efficacy of universal design partnerships and make improvements

  • Disabled student retention, success, and completion is increasing annually

Potential Blocking Issues

  • Identify materials for informational emails and resources

  • Identify funding sources for faculty and staff to attend trainings

  • Funding for a yearly stipend or a Universal Design position


​​Previous: Objective 1.2 Accessibility and Accommodation

Next: Objective 1.4 Alternate Media for Students​