STUDENT AFFAIRS ANNUAL REPORT (2025-2026) 15 Despite these efforts, progress during the first year proved challenging. Like many institutions across the country, Northern faced the reality that digital accessibility work requires significant time, training, and sustained attention from faculty and staff. At the conclusion of fall 2025, Northern's overall D2L accessibility score stood at 76.68%, well below the Student Affairs Strategic Plan (2025– 2030) target of 85%. The arrival of President LaFave and Interim Provost Fouberg in January 2026 provided an opportunity to refine the university's approach and renew focus on achieving compliance and improving student access. An institutional goal of 85% accessibility was established for spring 2026, and additional support measures were implemented. Faculty were invited to participate in dedicated Accessibility Days, where they could receive individualized assistance updating course materials. Weekly tracking of accessibility data and active engagement with academic deans created additional accountability and support throughout the semester. The results were remarkable. By the end of spring 2026, Northern achieved a weighted average D2L accessibility score of 90.23%, exceeding the strategic plan goal and demonstrating substantial improvement in the accessibility of digital course content. Northern also recorded the highest overall accessibility performance among the six South Dakota Board of Regents institutions, finishing approximately five percentage points ahead of the next closest university. This success reflects the dedication of faculty and staff across campus who invested countless hours reviewing and improving digital content. Special recognition is due to Jason Henslee, Mason Davidson, the Tech Fellows, Cassandra Maillet, Krista Bau, Sean Blackburn, and Erin Fouberg for their leadership and advocacy throughout the process. The School of Education emerged as a campus leader, with faculty embracing accessibility not simply as a compliance requirement, but as a teaching practice that benefits all learners by providing more flexible and inclusive access to course materials. While significant progress has been made, Northern recognizes that digital accessibility is not a onetime project but an ongoing commitment. The extension of federal compliance timelines provides additional opportunities for continuous improvement, and the university enters fall 2026 with strong momentum, a growing culture of accessibility, and a clear commitment to ensuring that all students can fully engage with the digital learning environment. Staff Transitions: Student Affairs welcomed 3 new team members, while saying goodbye to 2 colleagues during the 2025-26 year. Mr. Marty L. Sabolo, director of residence life and dining services, announced his retirement in October of 2025 after 38 years of dedicated service in higher education. Marty returned to the St. Louis area to be closer to family. Under his leadership, the university saw the construction of three new residence halls and the enhancement of the Residence Life program, setting a new standard for student living and engagement. He consistently
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