Audiovisual Captioning Policy (proposed) / 1
GRCC Audiovisual Captioning Policy
Proposed Policy Statement:
To support an inclusive environment geared towards universal design concepts which removes barriers and equalizes communication access, all audiovisual media used as part of classroom activities, instruction, distance learning, training modules for institution personnel, campus sponsored events, and co-curricular activities should be closed, open or real time captioned.
Best Practices
Captioning Required: if the uncaptioned video creates a barrier to instructional material for a student who has a documented disability which would be accommodated by captioning or if the video is being shared in an unrestricted way (i.e. the video is publicly available). If you are not restricting access and you cannot be sure no one in the audience requires captioning, captioning is expected.
Captioning Encouraged: Captioning of online video is strongly encouraged for any online video which will be used in the future for an undefined audience and even in cases where the current audience has been restricted to a group where it is unknown who will need the accommodation. For example, any audiovisual media used each time a class is taught should be captioned for future students who may need the accommodation.
Captioning Not Required: Before coming to the determination that captioning is not required, always inquire as to whether or not a video/clip/film is essential to a course outline.
Once this has been determined, captioning is not required for any online video that will be used for a limited duration when the audience is restricted to a group of users unknown to need the accommodation. If you are restricting access by some means and you are certain no one in the course is in need of captioning, then you are not required to caption the material.
*English language captioning is also not required in courses where foreign language or comprehension and recall of spoken word would be negated by the addition of these captions. However, if subtitles in the germane language are available, they are encouraged.
Purchasing New Audiovisual Media/Instructional/DVD/Film / Any new AVM purchased by the institution will be the captioned version.
Created Audiovisual Media / Captioning of existing online video is strongly encouraged for any AVM which will be used on a recurring basis (i.e. each class section oreach semester)for an undefined audience.
/ Any visual media with sound created after implementation date which will be continually used and is not already in compliance with the Audiovisual Captioning Policy, must be captioned.
Institution Owned Non-captioned Video/DVD/Film Releases / Captioning of previously purchased AVM is strongly encouraged for any materials which will be used in the future for an undefined audience. / Any non-captioned audiovisual media materials which cannot be transitioned out or cause an undue hardship to purchase new captioned versions will be converted into an accessible captioned format.
Impromptu Classroom
Materials
i.e. an important political figure has just passed which is pertinent to the classroom discussion. / No one in the classroomis known to need an accommodation and the audience and duration of themedia useis verylimited. / If the impromptu video is not-essential to the course objectives and the student agrees to view an alternate video or article on the same topic. / If the impromptu video is essential to the course objectives and a student is going to be assessed on the material.
Key Points for Faculty:
- The purpose of this policy is not to penalize faculty members. The spirit of this policy is to provide equal access to all members of the GRCC campus community.
- AGC policies are customarily passed with a grace period to establish procedure before implementation.
- (i.e. Admissions Application Cut-Off policy date of decision 4/10/12, Provost charged Student Affairs Office to develop implementation plan by Winter 2014)
- Policies give us the ability to advocate for necessary resources
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