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News  |  Advising  |  Grants and Fellowships  |  Conferences and Workshops 

April 27, 2026

News

Official Extension of ADA Title II Deadlines

On April 20, the Department of Justice officially published an Interim Final Rule extending the compliance deadlines for web and mobile accessibility by one year, moving the date to April 24, 2027. While this provides us with additional time to make sure we’re meeting accessibility requirements, it is not a grace period to pause our efforts. Our goal has always been to provide an equitable, accessible digital experience for all our audiences. Site editors and maintainers should continue to reference our digital accessibility website, and resources like DubBot, to help ensure your websites — and Carleton’s overall digital and web presence — remain accessible for all.

Carleton.edu Redesign: Timeline Shift to January 2027

The Division of Communications and ITS are shifting the launch of the carleton.edu visual redesign from July 2026 to mid-late January 2027. This shift will allow us to launch the new WordPress Standard theme across the majority of Carleton’s sites while minimizing site disruption during fall term and upcoming application cycle.

What to Expect with the Updated Timeline

  • Current Sites: Most sites will largely maintain their current states through the fall.
  • Academic Sites: We will keep working with site maintainers and owners on finalizing updates to academic navigations so we can have those approved by this summer and updated ahead of fall term.
  • Content Migration: From June to October, the project team will begin moving existing content into new WordPress blocks as the last phase of site prep, communicating with site maintainers as we go.
  • Review & Training: The last review period—the new theme applied to sites—and training sessions will now take place from late fall term through early January.

For full project details, including factors contributing to this timeline shift, and a revised timeline, please visit the centralized project page. Thanks for all the productive conversations and review thus far.

Office of Accessibility Resources and Final Exams

Office of Accessibility Resources (OAR) spaces are available during final exams for students with approved accommodations for both self-scheduled exams and those that are taken per the College’s exam schedule. Below is important information for faculty about OAR’s operations during final exams and scheduling considerations for students.

OAR offers exam appointments on each day of the finals period. OAR is not able to administer exams over Reading Days. Due to space and staffing constraints, as well as the need to provide extended time, OAR’s schedule is different from the rest of the College and the following times are available to students:

  • Day 1: 8 AM, 12 PM, 1 PM**, 4 PM
  • Day 2: 8 AM, 12 PM, 1 PM**, 4 PM
  • Day 3: 8 AM, 12 PM
  • **Students with 2x extended time and/or stop-the-clock testing ONLY.

Space is limited, and time slots often reach capacity throughout the weekend. Students are encouraged to book early if they have preferred time slots, or time slots that have been agreed upon with their faculty. Students receive multiple reminder emails about the booking deadline and appointment slots will be open after midterm break.

Self-Scheduled Exams

  • Students can pick from any of the available times based on their approved accommodations, but they need to book an appointment in advance to ensure there is space available at their desired time. 
  • Booking requests must be submitted by 12 PM on the last day of classes. Requests that are received after the posted deadline will only be considered pending availability of space. Changes to scheduled appointments will only be considered and approved if there are open seats available during other time slots. 
  • OAR’s self-scheduled finals operate separately from the rest of the College. Student exam materials must be sent directly to OAR via email or delivered to our office. Exam packets that are sent to the Provost’s Office will not be forwarded to OAR. 

Regularly Scheduled Exams

  • Booking requests must be submitted by 12 PM on the last day of classes.Requests that are received after the posted deadline will only be considered pending availability of space.  
  • Students are directed to book the time slot that most closely aligns with the time the rest of their class will be taking the exam. This may mean that students will need to start earlier or later than the College’s designated time for the exam. 
  • OAR is unable to make adjustments to the exam schedule for individual students. Faculty reserve the right to work with a student individually to provide accommodations for the final exam if they want or need a student to start at the designated time. Faculty are welcome to email OAR@carleton.edu for consultation and support.
  • With advance notice, OAR is able to work with faculty to ensure that supplemental materials, such as audio or video files, are provided to the student. Flexibility may be needed depending on the format of the exam and capacity of OAR staff. If an exam has multiple elements and requires more hands-on proctoring, please reach out as soon as possible to determine whether or not OAR has the capacity to administer the final exam in the same manner that it is offered to students without accommodations.

Export Controls, Trade Sanctions, and Foreign Influence in Research

Export controls are laws regulating the shipment or transfer, by any means, of controlled items, software, technology, or services out of the US. Some Activities covered by these restrictions include participating in international research collaborations, traveling internationally, conducting research with proprietary information or technology, making international shipments of advanced scientific equipment or biological materials, conducting research related to outer space, and using computer software with encryption features. They may also pertain to information related to cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, machine learning, autonomous vehicles, 3D printing, augmented virtual reality, gene editing, financial technology, semiconductors, robotics, nanotechnology, and biotechnology.

If your work at Carleton involves any of the listed activities, it is your legal responsibility to familiarize yourself with our policies in the Campus Handbook and on the Grants Office website. If you believe your work might be subject to US export controls laws, please reach out to our research compliance officer Charlotte Whited (cwhited, x5833). 

Educational Associate in AI Initiatives

Academic AI Initiatives is seeking a student from the Class of ’26 to serve as Educational Associate for 2026-27. This position will help with faculty, staff, and student outreach around AI, help to plan events for academic technology, assist with data gathering and processing, and help us stay on top of new developments in the technology. Existing AI literacy skills are a plus, but not necessarily a prerequisite. If you work with students who might be a good candidate for this job, please direct them to George Cusack with questions, or direct them to the job listing in Workday.

Advising

Advising Days

The fifth and sixth weeks of the term are a good time to check in with your advisees, particularly first-years. You can set up a lunch with your first-year advisees (remember to use your Take a Faculty Member to Lunch credit) and get a sense of how they are handling the midterm crunch. This is also a good moment to begin planning your advising appointments and to remind your advisees to prepare for these sessions.

Advisers Going on Leave or an OCS Program

If you have first-year advisees and will be going on leave or participating in an OCS program this fall, our office will reassign your advisees to a new adviser. Please inform your advisees that your spring term meeting will be your final one with them, and that they will be able to view their new adviser assignment on September 1, 2026. If you will be unavailable and they have advising questions or concerns, please direct them to Yansi Pérez.

If you will be going on leave or participating in an OCS program in the winter, advisees will remain with you through the fall, and our office will reassign them over winter break in December.

SDA Selection Reminder

Each year, one or two seniors serve departments (or programs) as SDAs. These Student Departmental Advisers help inform students about courses, prerequisites, college and departmental requirements, and so supplement information and advice available through advisers and published materials. It is now time to identify your SDAs for 2025-26. Department Chairs and Program Directors, if you have not already done so, please select your SDA(s) for the 2025-26 year and send their names and email addresses to: Becky Krogh (bkrogh) by Friday, May 1.

Mental Health First Aid Training

Want to feel more confident in supporting people who are experiencing mental health challenges? Get certified in Mental Health First Aid (MHFA)!

The training is a full eight hours in length, and will be held on Midterm Break, 6th Monday, May 4th, when there are no classes. For more info and registration, see the MFHA page. Mental Health First Aid training is open to all students, faculty, and staff at Carleton. Questions? Contact OHP via healthpromotion@carleton.edu.

Important Dates and Deadlines

  • Thursday, April 30: Last Day First Five Weeks
  • Friday, May 1: First Day Second Five Weeks
  • Monday, May 4: Mid-Term Break
  • Tuesday, May 5: Classes Resume 8:15 a.m.
  • Friday, May 8: Second Five Week Course Drop/Add Deadline 5:00 p.m.
  • Friday, May 15: Ten Week Course Late Drop Deadline and S/CR/NC Deadline 5:00 p.m.
  • Wednesday, May 13 – Friday, May 22: Advising Days
  • Thursday, May 21: Priority Registration for Fall Term Begins
  • Friday, May 22: Second Five Week Course Late Drop Deadline and S/CR/NC Deadline 5:00 p.m.
  • Thursday, May 28: Priority Registration for Fall Term Ends
  • Wednesday, June 3: Last Day of Classes
  • Thursday June 4 – Friday June 5: Reading Days
  • Saturday, June 6 – Mon. June 8: Exams
  • Wednesday, June 10: Senior Grades Due 8:30 a.m.
  • Saturday, June 13: Commencement
  • Wednesday, June 17: Grades Due 8:30 a.m.

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