Evaluating Institutional Capacity to Implement Universal Design for Learning in Community Colleges

A sequential comparative case study, qualitative approach was used to gain in-depth knowledge about necessary characteristics at an institution to effectively implement Universal Design for Learning (UDL). UDL is an effective framework to address the open access design and the mission of the community college which supports accessible education for equality and opportunity for students from various backgrounds and learning abilities. The data produced a scorecard for institutions to use to access institutional capacity to implement UDL at various stages of implementation. As additional state initiatives for UDL continue to be approved and advocacy groups are gaining momentum, the necessity to understand the resources and training needed for implementation of UDL among community colleges is important. Qualitative data analyzed to describe the successfulness of implementation of UDL at various levels will give readers an understanding of the necessary characteristics to implement UDL effectively. The scorecard developed from this research provides implementation features that may better equip institutions i n preparation for UDL initiatives, increase student success and retention rates, and meet compliance with laws and regulations.