Technology Assessment

Overview
 
This page is designed to help the UT Tyler community effectively use the Technology Assessment Process. 

Important Topics 

• Why Do We Need Technology Assessment?
• Technology Assessment Process
• EIR Accessibility Compliance
• Frequently Asked Questions
• How To Get Help 

Why Do We Need Technology Assessment? 

Before signing contracts, purchasing, implementing, downloading, or installing technology, it is crucial to: 

• Avoid duplication and unnecessary spending.
• Avoid incompatible or flawed technology.
• Identify software that requires technical resources or a project to implement.
• Negotiate in favor of UT Tyler’s interests. Once a contract is signed, there is almost no room for negotiation with vendors.
• Comply with policies and laws, including:
  • UT Tyler policy 9.06 - IT Purchase and Reimbursement
  • UTS165 – UT System Information Resources Use and Security Policy
  • National Institute of Health (NIH) and other grant-funding agencies’ requirements
  • Texas Administrative Code (TAC) 202
  • Texas Government Code 2054 – TX-RAMP Certification (for cloud computing products)
  • Americans with Disabilities Act Title II - Accessibility
  • Texas Government Code 2054 Subchapter M – Accessibility
  • Texas Administrative Code Chapter 213 - Accessibility 

Scope and Timing 

All Electronic Information Resources (IR) for all UT Tyler campuses and locations are in scope, regardless of cost and hosting. A definition of IR can be found in UT Tyler HOP Policy 9.00 #10. Here are the recommended submission timelines: 

• New Technology, Upgrade, or Add-On Module: Submit 90 days before the intended contract/acquisition/implementation start date.
• Renewal of an Existing Technology: Submit 60 days before the intended technology product renewal date.
• Additional Licenses of an existing technology: Submit 30 days before licenses are needed. 

NOTE: In some cases, more time is needed due to delays by the vendor, complexity, funding, etc. 

Get Started with a Technology Assessment 

1. Submit a Technology Assessment Request
2. A confirmation email from itsupport@uttyler.edu will be sent, please click on the link to the DMND ticket that was created. Review and respond to requests or questions as needed.
3. The Technology Assessment process includes the EIR Accessibility. 

EIR Accessibility 

The EIR Technology Accessibility process is designed to ensure compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act Title II, Texas Administrative Code 213 Subchapter C and other statutes/policies. We evaluate and recommend actions on requests for exceptions and educate the University Community on accessibility laws, policies, and best practices. 

The EIR Accessibility Specialist will request a VPAT (Voluntary Product Accessibility Template).  This VPAT is completed and provided by the Information Resource vendor. 
The EIR Accessibility Specialist then uses a set of guidelines and criteria (product audience, scope of use, cost of software, etc.) to determine if further documentation and/or accessibility testing on the application is needed. 

Common Accessibility Issues 

• Incompatibility with screen readers and other commonly utilized assistive tools
• Accommodations for Motor Issues, Cognitive Disorders, Low Vision, Hearing Loss, Colorblindness, or Blindness
• Exploring other options that meet functionality requirements, have higher Accessibility Scores, and are comparable in cost 

VPAT 
What is a VPAT? 
A VPAT® is a form provided by the ITIC which is completed by a vendor or a developer to advise which of the WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) criteria are supported and which are not supported. 

Why are WCAG criteria important? 
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) criteria are important because they ensure that the Information Resource is compatible with common assistive technologies utilized by those with disabilities. 

Why does UT Tyler need a VPAT? 
UT Tyler, like all State of Texas agencies, must comply with Texas Administrative Code Chapter 206 and 213 to ensure that electronic and information resources comply with the WCAG to ensure that the resource is accessible to everyone, including those with disabilities.   If UT Tyler decides to utilize a resource though it is not accessible, state mandated paperwork must be completed, approved and tracked. 

The State of Texas follows the guidelines invoked in Section 508 of the federal Rehabilitation Act. 

Note: In April 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice published a new rule that elevates the minimum requirement for WCAG criteria from 2.0 A/AA to 2.1 A/AA. 

VPAT Information

VPAT Templates

The VPAT® templates are published by the Information Technology Industry Council (ITIC) and are free to download from itic.org.  There are four templates to choose from: 

• EU – Criteria includes WCAG 2.0, 2.1 and EN 301 549 2021-03 criteria.
• INT – Criteria includes WCAG 2.0, 2.1, 2.2 and Revised Section 508 1/22/2018, EN 301 549 209-11 and EN 301 549 2021-03 criteria.  
• Rev 508 – Criteria includes WCAG 2.0, 2.1 and 2.2 and Revised Section 508 1/22/2018 criteria  
• WCAG – Criteria includes WCAG 2.0, 2.1 and 2.2 criteria 

Which Templates to Use

Title II agencies are required to meet WCAG 2.1 A/AA guidelines for Web and Mobile Applications. 

Texas agencies are required to meet WCAG 2.0 guidelines for all Electronic and Information Resources. 

All of the VPAT® templates include the 2.0 criteria, so any will be accepted. 
Providing just Section 508 criteria is not acceptable for Texas agencies.

Vendor Instructions

ITIC has free, on-line VPAT® training videos available.  Also, ITIC has a YouTube channel with training videos available. 

Red Flags on VPATs®

• We may discount a VPAT® report if any of these red flags apply:
• The report is more than two years old
• The report is based on resource or general product knowledge but not actual testing or assessment. 
• The vendor requires a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) to provide the report.
• Responses on the report are not logical.
• Responses on the report do not match our own assessment. 

Why Score a VPAT®?

It is necessary to have a scoring system to compare multiple resources and compare year over year progress towards accessibility.  In addition to a numerical score, we also apply a letter grade so that even if the numerical scale is updated, the letter grade can be compared year over year. 

How to Grade a VPAT®

The EIR Accessibility Coordinator at UTA developed an Excel scorecard for a VPAT®.  The EIR Accessibility Specialist at UT Tyler updated the scorecard to meet the requirements set forth by the institution. 

Contact eiraccessibility@uttyler.edu to request a copy of the scorecard. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Contact Us 

For status updates or if additional information is requested, visit the UT Tyler HelpNow portal or email itsupport@uttyler.edu.  For further assistance, please contact David Christian at dchristian@uttyler.edu.