UDLHE Network: A UDL-IRN Higher Education SIG

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About Us

The UDLHE Network, a SIG of the UDL-IRN, is a place to collaborate with others in higher education who are working towards the intentional development of UDL initiatives to increase quality of learning for the predictable variability of students and faculty today. Join our online community site to learn more about the UDLHE Network history, leadership structure, charter, and activities.
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Meetings and Special Events

Join us for our meetings and other events. At Quarterly Meetings, we gather to discuss topics of interest to the community and to highlight our member contributions. Pop-Up Meetings can be hosted by anyone in the community and are intended to be discussion based and informal. Once you’re a member, you’ll receive invitations to any meetings and special events. A schedule and access to recordings of past events can be found on our Mighty Network online community site.

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Digicon

Are you passionate about collaborating, making, learning, exploring, and sharing UDL practices in Higher Education? Do you have the mindset of a maker – creating, tinkering, learning in a hands-on fashion, and thinking critically about UDL practices? The theme of the 2023 Digicon is Multiple Means of Sharing UDL: from information to implementation. Participants had the chance to share their work with other UDL makers at the 2022 UDLHE Digicon conference.
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Network & Collaborate

Our Mighty Networks online community space is meant to facilitate the sharing of practical strategies, information, creative ideas, and professional development materials. Join us to network and collaborate with others who are working towards bringing quality, equity, and accessibility to learning experiences in higher education.

Connect

If you are not yet a member, complete this short form to join the UDLHE Network or reach out via email at highered@udl-irn.org. Find us on social media using the #UDLHE hashtag and follow us on Twitter @UDLHE.

Leadership Team

Headshot of Anne Marie Ristow

Anne Marie Ristow

Co-Chair
Higher Education Freelancer
Cross-Continental 

JeVaughn Lancaster

Co-Chair
Lynn University
Boca Raton, FL USA
JJLancaster@lynn.edu

photo of Andy Smidt

Andy Smidt

Digicon Chair
University of Sydney
Sydney, Australia
andy.smidt@sydney.edu.au

Headshot of Katja Hakel

Katja Hakel

Digicon Co-Chair
Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)
Trondheim, Norway katja.hakel@ntnu.no

Mark Nichols

Treasurer & Secretary
Virginia Polytechnic Institute
Blacksburg, VA, USA
 
Headshot of Carly M. Lesoski

Carly M. Lesoski

Communications Director
Dartmouth College
Hanover, NH, USA
carly.m.lesoski@dartmouth.edu

Headshot of Les T. Johnson

Les T. Johnson

Communications Director (Outgoing)
Dalhousie University
Nova Scotia, Canada
 

Abstract

Higher education has a unique landscape that influences the methods of implementing and scaling UDL. In this SIG, we will network to collaborate with others in higher education  who are working towards implementing UDL into their systems, practices, and thinking. By developing such a network, we will facilitate sharing of practical strategies, information, and professional development materials.

*For the purpose of this group, “implementation” refers to the intentional development of UDL initiatives to increase quality of learning for the predictable variability of higher education students and faculty today.

Area of Interest and Why it is Important

Within the higher education landscape, there are unique challenges. Some of these include: differing school models and missions, degrees of faculty’s focus on research (sometimes over instruction), the size of classes and campuses, the connections between faculty and students, the lack of education background for many individual faculty, the relationship among faculty and other service providers (e.g., disability services), and the impact of legislative accessibility standards (different for different countries).  We also recognize that “Higher Education” is not a monolithic group, but one populated by different types of institutions that serve different populations and have different needs. Together we will support the variability of our members and build a community that co-creates the direction of the SIG. Some topics of discussion may include:

  • Curriculum development
  • Procurement
  • Technology selections
  • BYOD
  • Identifying and addressing conceptual misunderstandings of UDL in higher ed (e.g., confounding of UDL and accessibility)
  • Getting started with UDL
  • Effective on-site networking

Activities

  • Network UDL practitioners for mentoring or by common interest
  • Quarterly member meetings to discuss specific topics of interest
  • Annual meeting at the UDL-IRN Summit
  • Identify and share talent and foci such that individuals will know where to go for ideas, supports, resources
  • Identify and share strategies on “how to get started” on your campus, with recognition of variability in types of colleges/universities and how this variability affects implementation.
  • Develop resources that will assist institutions in overcoming the obstacles that stand in the way of UDL implementation.
  • NOTE! We are member-driven. Our activities expand and grow per the needs and leadership of our community. If you have an idea, let us all know!