University of California System Satisfactory Academic Progress Web Accessibility Report

Abstract

This report examines the web accessibility of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) webpages across nine University of California institutions. In September 2026, each publicly available SAP webpage was evaluated using the WAVE Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool, followed by manual inspection of webpage code to verify identified errors and reduce false positives. Findings were interpreted in relation to WCAG 2.1 Level A and Level AA accessibility requirements. Accessibility errors varied across campuses, with very low color contrast emerging as the most common system-wide issue. Seven of the nine institutions had at least one contrast-related error, while UC Irvine and UC Santa Barbara had no identified errors in the categories examined. UC Berkeley also exhibited multiple missing form labels, highlighting the importance of accessible names and programmatic relationships for interactive elements. Other error types were comparatively uncommon. Overall, the findings indicate that UC SAP webpages generally contained relatively few accessibility barriers, but recurring issues related to contrast and form controls remain important for remediation. The report recommends that financial aid practitioners collaborate with campus IT, web development, and accessibility personnel to correct verified errors, review interactive elements, and establish recurring accessibility audits so that SAP information remains accessible to students using assistive technologies.