Call for Applications: Boosting Course Accessibility Faculty Fellowships
TheÌýUSM Kirwan Center for Academic InnovationÌýis pleased to announce a call for applications for theÌý2026-2027ÌýBoosting Course AccessibilityÌýFaculty Fellowship
2026-2027 Digital Accessibility Communities of Practice Co-Leads Announced
The 51³Ô¹ÏÍø (USM) Kirwan Center for Academic Innovation is pleased to announce the appointment of four Faculty Co-Leads for the 2026-2027 Digital Accessibility Communities of Practice (CoPs).
17 Faculty Selected for Boosting Course Accessibility Mini Grant Program
The William E. Kirwan Center for Academic Innovation is pleased to announce that 17 faculty members have been selected to participate in the Boosting Course Accessibility mini grant program.
Digital Accessibility
Digital accessibility refers to the intentional design of electronic technologies and materials so that they are usable by all people, including people with disabilities. In the case of our increasingly technology-enhanced courses, digital accessibility means equal access to educational opportunity.
Explore the USM Digital Accessibility Hub. The Digital Accessibility Hub serves as your central resource for creating inclusive digital environments where all students, faculty, and staff can thrive regardless of ability.
USM Announces Formation of Digital Accessibility Working Group
The 51³Ô¹ÏÍø (USM) is proud to announce the formation of the Digital Accessibility (DA) Working Group, spearheaded by the Kirwan Center for Academic Innovation. This initiative brings together representatives from all 12 USM campuses, community college representatives, independent public university representatives, private college representatives, and MarylandOnline to address the critical need for accessible digital course materials across the State of Maryland.
Teach Access Announces Academic Hub at Kirwan Center
, a nonprofit dedicated to making digital accessibility fundamental to higher education curricula, proudly announces its newest academic hub, theÌý51³Ô¹ÏÍø’s (USM) William E. Kirwan Center for Academic Innovation. This collaboration aims to advance accessibility education, research, and practice by integrating accessibility-focused initiatives into faculty development, curriculum design, and institutional strategy across USM.
Call for Applications for the 2025 Elkins Fellowships for SoTL
The Kirwan Center for Academic Innovation is pleased to announce this call for applications for Elkins Fellowships for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL). Up to 10 Elkins SoTL Fellowships of $1,000 each will be awarded for 2025-2026 (May 1, 2025-June 30, 2026).
NFB-MDTAP Resource Guide for Accessible Classrooms
Resource Guide for Making an Accessible Classroom
This resource guide was created for USM institutions in support of the digital accessibility goals. For more information or resources, please contact the MDOD IT Access Initiative via email at: mdod.nva@maryland.gov or via their website .
Supporting Digital Accessibility for Learning
The William E. Kirwan Center for Academic Innovation has been collaborating with the National Federation of the Blind for several years to support digital accessibility efforts across the System. We are excited to announce that we are now collaborating to co-host an upcoming meeting to discuss how to build support for faculty around digital accessibility for learning on Thursday, September 29Ìýfrom 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. at the National Federation of Blind’s offices in Baltimore.
Ensuring Accessibility
In 2021, the Kirwan Center curated a list of resources for ensuring accessibility in support of the sudden shift to remote teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic.Ìý
Balancing Student Privacy and Accessibility | Kirwan Center for Academic Innovation
Provides guidance on best practices for balancing student privacy and accessibility in an online environment.
