Calendar of Events

Web Initiatives & Updates

Purchase College is committed to removing barriers and making content accessible to all visitors.

New Ruling Impacting SUNY

On April 8, 2024, the Department of Justice (DOJ) provided a new ruling on Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Fact Sheet: New Rule on the Accessibility of Web Content and Mobile Apps Provided by State and Local Governments.

With the new ruling, the focus changed from an accommodations model to an “equal access” model – meaning that alternative paths to accommodate individuals with disabilities are no longer allowed.

Although the new ruling also set the standard for web content and mobile apps at WCAG 2.1AA, Purchase College complies with WCAG 2.2AA. This is the required guideline under NYS law P08-005.

In the new ruling on Title II, the DOJ also defined explicit rules for pdfs and pdf archives. Pdfs that are in use, whether a form or a piece of content that we are pointing people to, must be fully accessible. Alternative paths are no longer allowed.

Purchase College began formally addressing Title II compliance during the summer of 2025 with the Annual Accessibility Training. Strong and consistent communication with CMS (content management system) editors continued throughout winter and spring 2026. The direction was, and still is, to

  • Remove unnecessary pdfs.
    • Hide in LiveWhale.  Do not delete.
  • Link out to original content.
  • Create web content, including LiveWhale forms when possible, instead.
    • Do not collect Personal, Private and Sensitive Information (PPSI) in LiveWhale.
    • Contact CTS with any questions on PPSI.
  • Use a verified accessible Microsoft document.

If you have a document that must remain in pdf format or need more clarification on federal requirements for pdf archives, please email the Accessibility Committee.

With the change in deadline from April 2026 to April 2027, read the broadcast email from the Chief Diversity Officer - May 5, 2026.

Purchase College History from 2020 Forward

In 2020 when state resources were restricted due to COVID-19, Purchase College secured funds to address structural changes to the Purchase College website and devoted human capital to removing barriers and improving accessibility. This project was a major endeavor and completed in early November 2020.

In 2021 and 2022, accessibility upgrades continued. Large projects included  a LiveWhale CMS upgrade and  an engagement with the vendor to overhaul image galleries to bring them into compliance with WCAG 2.1AA Accessibility Guidelines.

In 2023, Purchase College upgraded the LiveWhale CMS twice to improve functionality and accessibility and engaged with the vendor on a project to create descriptive text for raw urls imported with the Athletics calendar feed. Also, the compliance rate for the annual accessibility training for CMS editors that publish content hit 99%.

In fall 2024, the Purchase College website included a mini site refresh. This refresh of the home page and top-level templates included structural updates to comply with WCAG 2.2AA Accessibility Guidelines.

In 2025, notable accessibility improvements were made to the monthly calendar view on the Purchase College website and to event RSVP emails sent through the LiveWhale CMS. During the summer, the College also began formally communicating the implications of the new Title II ruling and providing guidance on compliance requirements.

In early 2026, efforts intensified to communicate the implications of the new Title II ruling and provide continued guidance on compliance.

Currently, the Accessibility Committee, Campus Technology Services, and Communications and Creative Services collaborate to identify goals and initiatives for the website and related entities. Purchase College is also in communication with the CMS vendor on accessibility barriers and concerns.

Current for 2026 and Beyond

  • Intensify efforts to communicate  and guide faculty, staff, and CMS editors on the new ruling on Title II.
  • Identify areas on Purchase College website for accessibility improvements, inform and remediate (updates to templates, widgets, functionality, and content).
  • Continue to identify and improve accessibility on internal apps and websites (WCAG 2.2 AA standard).
  • Communicate accessibility concerns on known external sites under the Purchase College umbrella.
  • Explore ‘accessible’ Way Finding technology for campus.
  • Update Purchase College website to version 3.0.
  • Continue to communicate on non-ADA-compliant broadcast emails.

Completed in 2026

  • Provided strong and consistent communication to faculty, staff, and CMS editors about the impact of the new Title II ruling and outlined steps to ensure compliance.
  • Engaged with a vendor for remediation of required pdfs (project: February - May) with SUNY grant.
  • Removed pdf upload access for LiveWhale CMS users.
  • Contracted with new vendor for an accessible campus map.
  • CTS began remediating apps and websites in alignment with WCAG 2.2 AA requirements.
  • Updated the breadcrumb on the Purchase College website to be ADA compliant (opacity, color updates).

Completed in 2025

  • Templates, Widgets, Pages
    • Updated LiveWhale CMS in January to  2.17.1 and in October to 2.21.0 to improve functionality and accessibility.
    • Added some CSS styling to fix accessibility errors introduced with 2024 refresh ( streaming links in athletics, links in new templates).
    • Re-implemented js overwritten with 2024 site refresh for empty containers associated with bulleted lists.
  • Calendar Updates
    • Updated calendar headers to comply with accessibility guidelines.
    • Restyled monthly calendar view to increase contrast ratio and underline links.
    • Improved rendering of monthly calendar view on mobile.
  • Events
    • Reconfigured the RSVP emails for improved accessibility.
  • External Sites / Internal Apps
    • Delivered recommendations to PAC, Neuberger, and dining websites.
    • Delivered recommendations to CTS on their internal apps and websites.

Completed in 2024

  • Updated CMS to LiveWhale 2.15.1 in April, which included various accessibility updates. One noteworthy improvement is how form errors are communicated to those using screen reading technology - an issue that Purchase College reported.
  • Added a language translator to website.
  • Contracted with vendor to create Instagram feeds that are modern and accessible.
  • Fixed template and widget structure to improve the experience of those using screen reading technology.
  • Completed a  mini site refresh with White Whale, the CMS vendor, that included structural improvements.

Completed in 2023

  • Updated CMS to LiveWhale 2.10.5 in September to improve functionality and accessibility. Update included a noteworthy enhancement with form validation for those using  screen reading technology.
  • Created new style in LiveWhale CMS to mimic styling of an h3 header without it acting as a header.
  • Completed project with CMS vendor to create descriptive text for raw urls imported with the Athletics calendar feed.
  • Updated CMS to LiveWhale 2.9.2 in April to improve functionality and accessibility. Update included the separation of  alt tag field and caption field for images, leading to a better experience for those using screen reading software.
  • Developed Guide to Creating Accessible Graphics.
  • Secured and disseminated accessibility training modules, curated by the Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights, to all faculty and staff. 99% compliance rate for CMS editors that publish content.

Completed in 2022

  • Configured events on LiveWhale calendar to auto-populate the required statement to request an accommodation.
  • Updated purchase.edu site breadcrumb.
  • Engaged with CMS vendor to improve design, functionality and accessibility with image galleries and create a new tile gallery to showcase images.
  • Created and disseminated the accessibility training module to all faculty and staff.
  • Planned accessibility theme and training for Faculty Obligation Week. Subsequently, launched same training to staff at start of Fall semester.
  • Completed project with CMS vendor to make bus schedules accessible on mobile.
  • Updated CMS to LiveWhale 2.5.0 in December to improve functionality and accessibility. 

Completed in 2021

  • Published Event Accessibility Guidelines.
  • Published Social Media Accessibility Guidelines.
  • Restyled events on calendar to show border on hover so a physical change, and not color alone, indicates that the event boxes are linked.
  • Improved social media icon accessibility with physical change of border on hover.
  • Upgraded CMS to LiveWhale 1.71 and resolved accessibility issues as it related to Purchase’s templates, widgets, and content.
  • Completed a project with the CMS vendor to improve accessibility with image galleries.
  • Developed a self-serve portal for Annual LiveWhale CMS Review training.

Completed in 2020

  • Home Page, Dual Image Layouts, and Custom Landing Pages
    • Increased accessibility with imagery.
    • Increased accessibility on mobile devices.
    • Made off-screen content accessible.
    • Addressed sequencing, tabbing, and visual focus (site-wide but most often experienced here).
  • Calendar
    • Addressed links, dropdowns, and checkboxes.
    • Addressed contrast issues, tiny text, and monthly calendar view.
  • Links
    • Restyled links so a physical change, independent of color change, indicates links.
    • Removed duplicate links or coded links so screen readers skip when text is adjacent to an image.
    • Remediated ‘keep reading’ links and other non-descriptive links with rich copy for screen readers.
  • Tables
    • Simplified complicated tables.
    • Implemented a header row to further assist those utilizing screen reading software.
  • Pdfs
    • Removed inaccessible pdfs from site.
  • Forms
    • Made messaging for required fields dynamic.
  • Campus Map
    • Added accessible parking and entrances.
  • Athletics Website
    • Met with athletics web team to discuss accessibility standards for new website.
    • Removed videos without closed captioning or captioned videos.

Challenges

  • Content editors continue to create accessibility errors.
  • Purchase College is dependent on external webmasters to correct errors for sites and forms created by vendors.
  • Updated regulations for Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)  requires an assessment of apps currently in use as well as pdf remediation. This will be a large undertaking impacted every SUNY.
  • Funding is often lacking as structural issues and the need for new interfaces / apps  are identified.
  • As a result of the aforementioned challenges, maintaining a barrier-free and accessible website is often a moving target.

Tactics to Resolve / Ongoing

  • Continue to educate content editors on CMS best practices through training and related workshops and communication.
  • Continue to work with CMS vendor on accessibility issues as new items are identified and as new versions of the CMS are released.
  • Contact CMS editors as issues are identified.
  • Contact broadcast email authors as issues are identified.
  • Remove CMS publishing access for those who have not attended the annual accessibility training.
  • Advise faculty, staff and students on accessible communication.
  • Generate accessibility reports and correct barriers.
  • Develop a formal procurement process for all goods and services (including vendor apps and interfaces) that includes a VPAT (Voluntary Product Accessibility Template) review.