How To Guides

There could be multiple reasons as to why you are unable to log in to a particular application. Here are some steps you can take to troubleshoot your issue:

1.   Are you using your NetID to log in?

• The large majority of our applications require the use of your University issued NetID (not your Novell user name) and NetID password.  
• Don't include @rci or @eden, etc. when typing in your NetID.  
• If you would like to test your NetID, please visit https://tdtools.rutgers.edu/netid  
• Remember, you must have a valid and active NetID.

2.   Are you authorized to access the application?  

• Certain applications are restricted to a limited set of users. You may not be allowed to log in to the application if you have not been granted access.  
• Users may not request access for themselves, you must contact your manager or supervisor who has the authority to delegate access. If you SUBMIT A REQUEST asking for access for yourself we will be unable to do so.

3.   Do you have the proper role at the University?  

• Many applications are written to not allow certain roles (Staff, Student, Alumni, Guest, etc.) at the University to have access.  
• For example, certain applications may be restricted to staff only.

Institutions of all types increasingly rely on websites and mobile apps to deliver services, programs, and information. When these digital tools are not accessible, they create significant obstacles for people with disabilities.

Creating accessible materials is essential to ensuring everyone in our community can fully engage with the information, services, and opportunities we provide. When we design content that works seamlessly with new technologies and follows clear, consistent standards, we remove barriers and enable participation for all. Our commitment to accessibility, including the use of SAS tools and best practices, allows us to create digital spaces that are equitable, effective, and accessible to everyone.

In 2024, the Department of Justice updated its regulations for Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), mandating that all university web and mobile content conform to the WCAG 2.1 AA standards for web accessibility by April 24, 2026. 

This page provides resources to help SAS faculty and staff create and maintain accessible web content that complies with updated standards and delivers a positive experience for our community.

Accessibility Training  Website Accessibility Scans  Creating Accessible Web Content  Document Remediation  Canvas Course Guidance  Creating Accessible Math Content  Roles and Responsibilities for Accessibility Compliance

Accessibility Training

Live Training

• SAS-IT Services periodically offers live training on Accessibility and Websites, Document Remediation, and Document Remediation Q&A Sessions.  You can see and register for our upcoming workshops here. 
• The Office of IT Accessibility (OITA) offers accessibility trainings to the all members of the Rutgers community and the general public. Here is a listing of all the available trainings they offer. 

Video Training

• Accessibility and Websites - This workshop demonstrates the importance of web accessibility and how to make accessibility a part of our standard routine. We test web pages to identify accessibility violations and learn how to fix them. We also learn how to manage links, images, headings, and other web page elements to maximize the accessibility of our websites.
• Document Remediation video - Please note: access to this video is restricted to Rutgers users. 

Live Workshop Schedule

Website Accessibility Scans

SAS-hosted Joomla! websites: Deque axeMonitor

SAS IT Services staff will conduct regular accessibility scans of SAS websites using the Deque axeMonitor software, which is available to us through our membership in the Big 10 Academic Alliance. The SAS IT Services web team will remediate accessibility issues found within web content.   Accessibility issues found within documents (such as PDF files) will be reported to the units, who will need to either remove the documents, or remediate them using the resources listed under Document Remediation below. 

DIY websites:  Rutgers A11y - Accessibility Audit Tool

If you manage a Rutgers website that is not maintained by the SAS IT Web Team, please refer to the documentation for the Rutgers A11y - Accessibility Audit Tool.

Creating Accessible Web Content

These resources are intended to help faculty and staff create and maintain accessible web pages: 

Resources

The following documents are part of Rutgers Information Technology's Web Accessibility Checklist:

• Accessible tables
• Captions and transcripts
• Color contrast
• Create meaningful links
• Headings
• Image guidelines
• Non-color indicators
• Rutgers Color Contrast Look Up

Document Remediation

These resources are intended to help faculty and staff remediate accessibility issues found within documents hosted on their websites.

Remediation Resources

Before remediating a document, consider whether it still needs to be hosted on your website.  It may be easier to remove old documents, and the links to those files, than it would be to complete the remediation process.

If the information in the document does need to remain on your website, consider converting the document to a Joomla! article, which will be much easier to remediate than the document would be. 

• Remediating PDF Files for Accessibility
• Remediating PowerPoint Presentations for Accessibility
• Remediating Word Documents for Accessibility
• Uploading a file using JCE File Browser

Archiving Documents

Under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), certain content is exempt from meeting the WCAG 2.1, Level AA standards. For example, archived web content that meets all four of the following points would not need to meet WCAG 2.1, Level AA:

1. The content was created before the date the state or local government must comply with this rule, or reproduces paper documents or the contents of other physical media (audiotapes, film negatives, and CD-ROMs for example) that were created before the government must comply with this rule, AND
2. The content is kept only for reference, research, or recordkeeping, AND
3. The content is kept in a special area for archived content, AND
4. The content has not been changed since it was archived.

In addition, archived documents should be identified to the visitor using language similar to the following:

"This archived document is no longer maintained and may not meet accessibility standards. To request content in an accessible format, contact us."

(Note that the words "contact us" in the above example should be linked to the website's "Contact Us" page). 

If you need assistance archiving documents on your website, please submit a helpdesk request and our web team will assist you.

Canvas Course Guidance

Are you wondering how to make your Canvas course site more accessible and usable, though not sure where to start? Join us in February, March, or April for a 10-Day Course Accessibility Challenge. If you need help or have questions, please contact Eliza Blau and the SAS Teaching and Learning Team. 

Creating Accessible Math Content

Rutgers Access & Disability Resources is working on publishing resources designed to help instructors create accessible math content.  In the meantime, please refer to the following resources:

• Accessibility for Special Materials: Math (Indiana University)
• Add Mathematical Notation (Pressbooks User Guide)
• Create accessible math in Pressbooks and Canvas (Indiana University)
• Instructions to create a tagged PDF from a LaTeX file
• Math and STEM Content (Penn State)
• Math Converter Instructions (Indiana University)
• Where can I find tips on making math accessible to students with disabilities? (University of Washington)

Roles and Responsibilities for Accessibility Compliance

SAS IT (Web Team)

• Review and resolve issues on pages managed by SAS IT, including general content updates.

Departments & Chairs (support and guidance from the SAS IT team as needed)

• Oversee faculty-created content (primarily documents) on SAS department websites are compliant.
• Ensure faculty materials are reviewed, remediated for accessibility, archived, or removed if non-compliant or no longer needed.

Faculty Members (support and guidance from the Teaching and Learning team as needed)

• Maintain accessibility for Canvas course content, research pages, and documents.
• Convert PDFs and instructional materials for Canvas into accessible formats or move them into accessible web formats.

Department Administrative Staff (support and guidance from the SAS IT team as needed)

• Verify that event materials including flyers and graphics meet accessibility standards on the department websites.

• Working Remotely Type: General

How To Check Voicemail (Cisco) Desk phone from outside the school

1. Dial your full desk phone number (XXX) XXX-XXXX
2. Wait until the voice mail starts and press (*)
3. The system will ask you for your ID (ID is your 5 Digit Ext.)
4. When prompted, enter Your PIN
5. Press 2 to check your voicemails

• Working Remotely Type: General

Single Number Reach works similar to call forwarding, but it allows for both your office phone and your mobile phone to ring which may be preferable for a hybrid work situation.  When just call forwarding is setup, only the number that the calls are forwarded to will ring.

To configure Single Number Reach, go to Cisco's Self Care Portal and login with your NetID username and password:

Once logged into the MyPhone site, click on the + button under “Additional Phones”:

Enter in your mobile phone number and check the box for “Enable Single Number Reach”.  When this option is checked and someone calls your office phone line, it will ring your office line first and then also ring your mobile phone so that the call can be answered from either line.

If you want to specify work hours for Single Number Reach, then click on the box with the + on it next to “Work Hours”.  Here you can specify which days and times Single Number Reach is active.  If your office line is called outside of these specified work hours then your mobile phone will not ring and the person calling will get your voicemail if no one picks up.

 To change the amount of time to wait until your mobile number starts ringing, click on the “Advanced call timing” link at the bottom of the Additional Phone options.  Adjust these settings as needed, but only change them if you are experiencing problems.

Remember to disable Single Number Reach if you will be out of the office for vacation, illness, etc.  Single Number Reach can be temporarily disabled by going to the “Work Hours” setting and unchecking the days of the week that you will not be working.  When you return to work, go back to Cisco's Self Care Portal and re-enable the work hour schedule for Single Number Reach.

• Working Remotely Type: General

Cisco WebEx phone is a part of the WebEx application installed on your mobile device that allows you to make and receive phone calls from your office line. Incoming calls will ring on both your office phone and mobile device through this application. Calls can also be placed from this application on your mobile device, allowing you to call from your office phone number.

Requests for setting up WebEx calling can be made via "https://it.rutgers.edu/voice".