CHIcana/o/x Studies Accessibility Design Assistant (Pre-selected Emely Vargas edvargas@ucdavis.edu and Noelia Guevara Lovo nlovo@ucdavis.edu

Position Summary

The Accessibility Design and Online Course Development Assistant will support the accessibility design, development, and implementation of three online Chicana/o/x Studies courses scheduled for Summer Session 2026. Working closely with faculty and instructional staff, the assistant will help ensure that course materials, activities, and digital resources are accessible, inclusive, and aligned with best practices for online learning and universal design.

This position contributes to the Chicana/o/x Studies Department’s broader initiative to develop a fully online minor, with plans for future expansion into a major. The project aims to increase educational access, flexibility, and student engagement while advancing the department’s commitment to equity, community engagement, and culturally relevant pedagogy.

Project Background

Since 2021, the Chicana/o/x Studies Department has expanded its virtual course offerings to better serve diverse student populations, including working students, students with caregiving responsibilities, and students who benefit from flexible learning environments. Through the leadership of faculty members and successful curriculum approval processes, the department has developed multiple online courses that center the histories, experiences, and contributions of Chicana/o/x, Latina/o/x, and other BIPOC communities.

The department's virtual learning initiative is grounded in the principles of Access, Relevance, and Community, ensuring that students receive a high-quality educational experience that validates their lived experiences while fostering critical engagement, community involvement, advocacy, and social justice.

Primary Responsibilities

• Review and revise online course materials to ensure compliance with accessibility standards and best practices for digital learning.
• Assist in designing accessible course content within the university’s learning management system.
• Create and format accessible documents, presentations, multimedia content, and instructional resources.
• Develop captions, transcripts, alternative text, and other accessibility features for course materials.
• Collaborate with faculty to organize course modules, assignments, discussion boards, and assessments for online delivery.
• Support the implementation of Interactive Learning Circles, Zoom-based activities, collaborative projects, and discussion-based learning.
• Conduct accessibility reviews and quality assurance testing of course content prior to course launch.
• Assist with the creation and maintenance of collaborative digital resources and final project repositories.
• Provide recommendations for enhancing student engagement, inclusion, and equitable participation in virtual learning environments.
• Document accessibility practices and contribute to the development of departmental guidelines for future online Chicana/o/x Studies courses.

Courses Supported

CHI 114V: Women of Color Reproductive Health and Reproductive Politics in a Global Perspective (Summer Session I)

Support course implementation by:

• Ensuring accessibility of readings, discussion boards, reflective journals, and Zoom-based Interactive Learning Circles.
• Assisting with collaborative learning activities and group facilitation resources.
• Supporting the development of the final collective digital resource documenting women of color-led reproductive justice movements.

CHI 113V: Latin American Women’s Engagement in Social Movements (Summer Session II)

Support course implementation by:

• Creating accessible course materials focused on coloniality, gender, resistance, and decolonial praxis.
• Supporting discussion boards, reflective journals, and Interactive Learning Circles.
• Assisting with the development of the final collaborative digital resource documenting women-led social movements and decolonial practices.

Desired Qualifications

• Undergraduate standing in Chicana/o/x Studies, History, Education, or a related field.
• Strong commitment to equity, accessibility, and inclusive education.
• Familiarity with learning management systems and online learning environments.
• Knowledge of accessibility principles, Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and digital content accessibility practices preferred.
• Strong organizational, communication, and collaborative skills.
• Ability to work independently while meeting project deadlines.
• Interest in social justice education, community engagement, and culturally responsive pedagogy.

Learning Outcomes

Through this position, the student assistant will gain experience in:

• Online course design and instructional development.
• Digital accessibility and Universal Design for Learning.
• Educational technology and learning management systems.
• Collaborative project management.
• Equity-centered and culturally responsive teaching practices.
• Development of accessible and inclusive learning environments for diverse student populations.

Project Impact

This position supports the Chicana/o/x Studies Department’s efforts to expand educational access and strengthen pathways for students to pursue the minor, future major, honors research, and graduate education. By helping develop accessible and engaging online courses, the project advances the department’s mission to challenge educational inequities, center marginalized histories and experiences, and foster meaningful connections between academic learning and community engagement.