Campus Credit and Accessibility: What Is a VPAT and Why It Matters

Expanding access to college credit should never introduce digital barriers.

If a student can submit a credit claim but cannot navigate the platform independently, that’s not just a technical issue — it’s an access issue.

That’s why Campus Credit maintains a current VPAT — and why institutions are paying more attention to them.

What Is a VPAT?

A VPAT (Voluntary Product Accessibility Template) explains how accessible a software platform is for individuals with disabilities.

When completed, it becomes an Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR) used during vendor review.

In simple terms, it answers:

Can students, faculty, and staff use this system independently — including those using assistive technologies?

Increasingly, colleges are asking that question earlier in the evaluation process.

Why Accessibility Is Getting More Attention

Higher education operates under federal accessibility expectations, including ADA, Section 508, and WCAG guidelines. Most institutions look for alignment with WCAG 2.1 AA standards.

These standards ensure digital systems are:

• Perceivable
• Operable
• Understandable
• Robust

If a platform manages student-facing academic workflows, it must meet these principles.

As articulation, dual enrollment, and CPL processes move into digital systems, accessibility is no longer separate from program quality — it is part of it.

What Institutions Should Expect from a VPAT

A strong VPAT should clearly outline what standards were tested, where the product fully supports those standards, and where improvement is ongoing.

Colleges do not expect perfection.

They expect transparency and responsibility.

How Campus Credit Approaches Accessibility

Campus Credit supports student-facing credit workflows — dual enrollment, articulation, CPL, dashboards, and approval tracking.

Accessibility within these workflows includes structured forms, keyboard navigation, accessible status indicators, and ongoing alignment with WCAG guidance.

We maintain a current VPAT available for institutional review. Because access to credit should expand opportunity — not create friction.

If your institution is reviewing credit workflow infrastructure and would like to review our VPAT, we’re happy to share it.

Accessibility isn’t an add-on. It’s infrastructure.