Higher Ed’s Digital Accessibility Deadline Is Here: Are Colleges Prepared?

Colleges Are Running Out of Time on Digital Accessibility 

New federal rules require that all public college and university web and media content be fully accessible by spring 2026. The changes are sweeping: every PDF, video, sound clip, third-party platform must meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines and other standards. Because digital content is everywhere in higher ed, this isn’t just an IT issue; it spans academic units, student services, procurement, faculty training, and vendor management. Institutions that don’t act risk non-compliance, legal liability, and exclusion of students with disabilities.
Key takeaway: Ensuring digital accessibility must be an institution-wide priority immediately if colleges are to meet the 2026 deadline.

Non-degree Credentials Are Surging: The Data Is Lagging

Interest in certificates, boot-camps, micro-credentials and other non-degree credentials (NDCs) has grown dramatically, yet institutions and policymakers lack reliable data about outcomes and student financing. Many learners are paying out-of-pocket for these credentials, and accrediting bodies are now beginning to respond with endorsement processes for quality assurance. The gap in data and transparency creates risk for students, institutions and employers; institutions offering NDCs face questions about value, tracking, and reporting. For higher-ed practitioners this means alternative credential strategy, data systems, and career alignment need urgent attention.
Quick Insight: As non-degree credentials proliferate, institutions must build robust data infrastructures and quality frameworks or risk being left behind.

4 Ways to Support Military-Affiliated Students

The American Council on Education gathered input from about 820,000 U.S. higher-ed students with military affiliations (service members, veterans, dependents) about what would help them succeed. Key themes: (1) Recognize them as mission-driven adults with prior experience, rather than assuming they need pity; (2) Remove administrative friction around prior service, credit, and navigation; (3) Ensure institutional supports address first-generation, parenting, and adult-learners’ needs; (4) Embed belonging and community for military-connected learners. 
Key Insight: Supporting military-affiliated learners requires institutions to shift from treating them as peripheral to actively integrating them into core student-success systems.

What College Students Are Worried About Right Now

A recent survey found U.S. college students reporting intense concern over financial stress, job and career uncertainty, political polarization, loneliness, and major changes in how they study (including AI) and live. Students say they feel the structural pressures on higher education and their future prospects, not just the classroom issues. For faculty and staff, this points to an urgent need for holistic supports (financial, mental health, sense of belonging) and a rethink of how students engage with institutions in this context.
Takeaway: Recognizing and supporting the full-life pressures students bring remains as important as academic pedagogy when retention and success are on the line.

Published: November 10, 2025