Accessible PDFs for Online Courses
Butler University is committed to providing an inclusive and accessible learning environment where all students can thrive. As part of our ongoing commitment to meet university-adopted quality standards by May 2025, we are actively working to enhance the accessibility of online course materials. This initiative aligns with Quality Matters (QM) Standard 8.3, which emphasizes accessible course text, inclusive practices, and support for Department of Justice (DOJ) digital accessibility guidelines.
To support this commitment, we are launching a collaborative PDF remediation project designed to provide immediate benefits to summer online courses and establish sustainable accessibility practices for the future. Focusing on summer online courses will also yield valuable insights to support Butler’s long-term commitment to fostering an inclusive learning environment across the University.
How It Works:
This project is a phased approach that involves faculty, library staff, and the Office of Online Education and Educational Technology (OEET).
Phase 1: Course Cleanup with TidyUP:
Faculty use TidyUP to identify and remove duplicate or unused files in their courses.
Phase 2: PDF Identification with DocMD LMS:
Faculty use DocMD LMS to identify PDFs that need remediation and pass PDFs over to the Library.
Phase 3: Alternative Resource Evaluation by Library Staff:
The Library will search for alternative, accessible versions of the PDFs, such as eBook versions. If an alternative is available, they will provide faculty with a direct link for their Canvas course.
Phase 4: PDF Remediation by OEET Staff:
If no alternative is found, OEET staff will manually remediate the PDF or send it to a third party for remediation. The remediated PDF will then be uploaded back to DocMD LMS and pushed to the Canvas course.
Why TidyUP Matters: Collaborating for Accessibility
As part of our PDF remediation project, which includes 231 courses this summer, we’re asking faculty to begin by using TidyUP to remove duplicate and unused files from their online course files. This is a crucial first step that directly impacts the efficiency and effectiveness of the entire project. Here’s why your participation in this initial cleanup is so important:
- Efficient Resource Allocation: By removing duplicate files, you help ensure that university resources are used effectively, focusing remediation efforts on the PDFs that are actively used by students in your courses.
- Reduced Backlog: Applying the remediation project to 231 courses means there is a potential for a high volume of files requiring attention. Reducing the number of files requiring remediation allows library and OEET staff to process files more quickly, speeding up the return of remediated PDFs to you.
Your proactive participation in the TidyUP phase helps us work together to allocate resources effectively, streamline the remediation process, and meet our accessibility goals. OEET will provide support and training to ensure smooth implementation. Together, we can ensure that all students have equitable access to course materials.
Identifying PDFs for Remediation
DocMD LMS, a Canvas integration, allows you to seamlessly identify and submit inaccessible PDFs from your courses for remediation. After using TidyUP to remove duplicate files, your next step is to use DocMD LMS to pinpoint PDFs requiring attention for accessibility. You’ll use DocMD LMS to send your PDFs to the Library.
Ready to identify PDFs for remediation? Please refer to our comprehensive how-to documentation for step-by-step instructions:
Open Sessions
The Online Education and Educational Technology team (OEET) is hosting walk-in sessions for faculty teaching summer online courses using TidyUP and DocMD LMS—no appointment needed. During these sessions, our team will guide you through running TidyUP in your Canvas course to remove duplicate and unused PDF files. We’ll also assist you in using DocMD LMS to submit PDFs for accessibility enhancements.
Monday, March 24th | 9 AM – 11 AM | Atherton Union 326
Tuesday, April 1st | 1 PM – 3 PM | Atherton Union 326
Take Action
Start by cleaning up old, unused, and duplicate PDFs in Canvas. Butler is providing you with a new tool, TidyUP, to help expedite this process.
Identify PDFs that need accessibility improvements. Use DocMD LMS to review the accessibility of your PDFs and submit any inaccessible files for remediation.