On this page, the executive summary of the Comprehensive Accessibility Plan for the Built Environment (Plan) is provided for easy perusal. Download the full Plan document (PDF) to read more in-depth.
The online form for public comment is closed, but you can always submit comments via email.
The Plan attempts to address accessibility at Oregon State University historically, at present, and where the university strives to go. The existing status quo of achieving access by relocation and accommodation strategies at the university is inadvisable, as a current lack of university space, program relocation costs, activity scheduling difficulties with limited fully accessible spaces, and the specificity of many of the academic programs, are making relocation a much harder endeavor for the university to satisfy than simply renovating existing facilities. In addition, this approach too frequently puts the burden on the person with a disability to request an accommodation.
OSU is at a point where the university needs to re-analyze how to best achieve program access and use a comprehensive approach to improve the physical environment for persons with disabilities. The Plan attempts to address these issues.
Much work has been done in recent years to improve access to persons with disabilities on campus, but much still remains to be done. Through the Plan, OSU is pursuing a holistic and comprehensive prioritized plan that sets forth objectives over the next five years. These objectives were developed through work with the Accessible University Advisory Committee (AUAC), Disability Access Services (DAS), Facilities Services (FS), and the Office of Equity and Inclusion (OEI), with opportunity for input provided to other interested community members.
These five objectives are not necessarily in order of importance, however, there was consensus within the committee that the idea of an accessible travel grid (Objective 1) is a top priority and is essential in ensuring access. Without first developing an accessible connection to each building, internal accessibility alone might not help OSU achieve desired results. These objectives will be underway all at the same time, to varying degrees, as they are all important. This will be more evident when looking at the table following this section - Prioritization and Cost Breakdown of Objectives by Phase.
The projected cost estimates listed in this executive summary can be seen as a starting point in ensuring that OSU progresses significantly towards these five-year goals. To achieve the longer term aspirational goals of being the most accessible university in Oregon, and perhaps in the country, much more will need to be invested in improving accessibility of the campus over the years.
Oregon State University is seeking to achieve the following objectives within the next five years.
Action: Seek resources, and begin contracting now for ATG
Action: Study, design, and construct accessible parking and pathways in east hill area
Projected costs: $6,000,000
ATG: $4,000,000
East Hill: $150,000k for study and design, estimated $1,850,000 for improvements
Action: Develop funding plan to complete assessment of internal facilities
Projected costs: $1,366,245 ($10-15,000/building) rounded to $1.4 million for unexpected costs
Action: Identification and removal of barriers to offices/elements that cannot be relocated, and barriers in locations where it would be advisable for physical accessibility to be a priority
Action: Prioritize barrier removal based on the assessment of buildings in Objective 2
Projected costs: $10,500,000 (full cost unknown pending Objective 2. This conservative rough estimate factors in known costs for restroom improvements, elevators, and other areas of focus)
Action: Conduct feasibility study of paratransit, infuse OSU-City Collaboration project with comments about need to improve campus shuttle system for all, including those with disabilities
Projected costs: Incorporated into OSU-City Collaboration, recommendations for transportation improvements likely to incur additional costs, and potentially rebuilding bus stops around campus
While classes, when viewed as a “program,” are relocated as needed, it has and will continue to be a difficult solution to achieve as the university grows. It should be a goal to reduce the need to relocate classes, with a long-term goal that all classrooms are accessible.
Action: Further develop knowledge of classroom conditions; prioritize improvements
Projected costs: $3,100,000 estimated by Classroom Committee for next phase of improvements
The following specific additional policy objectives have emerged through this process, and through knowledge developed about campus the past few years. These items are listed with information on when they should be accomplished during the five year plan period, whether immediately, ongoing, or at specific points.
These additional recommendations are not necessarily built environment design and construction specific, but rather, policy, process, or practice recommendations. They are not detailed more in-depth in this document, rather, they should serve as starting points for conversations amongst campus leadership on what other policy, process, or practice changes might be necessary to ensure the university meets its aspirational goals. Some will require more in-depth conversations on how certain processes work at the university, others will be simpler process changes that can be improved through updating the campus construction standards.
Oregon State University is already doing many of the things cited in recent studies by other universities (references in full document), has implemented positive practice changes, and should continue the following work that has happened over the past 3 years:
Requiring building projects to follow processes related to accessibility including; publicly open design workshops, facilitated design review by AUAC, and third-party firms with significant accessibility expertise reviewing design and monitoring construction (see flowchart full document page 12).
Phase | Objective 1: ATG | Objective 2: Assessment | Objective 3: High Priority Barriers | Objective 4: Transportation | Objective 5: Classroom Assortment | Dedicated Funds | Estimated Additional Funds Needed |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | East Hill Study, path from core to res halls south of railroad, parking at Cordley (3315), path from core to Wiegand, door wayfinding signage signifying access | Continue assessment, starting with Kidder, Gilbert, and Fairbanks in Spring 2013 | Wait for objective 2, but in mean time survey offices for access, identify non-relocatable, prioritize improvements, continue strategic restroom improvements near classrooms | Feasibility studied reported in OSU Goals: Objective 4, infuse collaboration project | Determine priority and funding for continual improvement | 10% deferred maintenance biennium funds ($850,000 requested) | $150,000 |
2 | East Hill construction (includes 2 parking lots 3242/3263, building entries/ramps at Women's Center, Benton Hall, Pharmacy, Furman pathways, Gilbert accessible entrance, Gilmore accessible entrance, Kerr east accessible entrance, parking lots (3234, 3303, 3221, 3262, 3266), finish wayfinding | Assess remaining buildings by Dec 2014 – use info to prioritize Objective 5 improvements over following years | Wait for objective 2 - once complete prioritize (accessible restrooms in each building, major entrance and internal circulation barriers, wayfinding and Braille signage), finish restroom improvements near classrooms, relocate Speech Communication (or create satellite office until they can move), start completing ‘Yes’ actions needed in Combined Access list | None | Begin design work and set-up for when capacity allows work to begin in spring 2016 on Classroom Committee first tier priorities | 10% deferred maintenance biennium funds | $4,400,000 |
3 | Langton accessible entrance, path from core to Oak Creek/30th, 30th and Jefferson (coincide with Classroom Bldg. opening), Pride Center entrance, parking lots (3301, 0205, 3233, 3271 – Cascade Hall) | None | Begin to implement removal of high priority barriers from assessment, additionally, plan for construction of Fairbanks elevator and entry, Langton elevator, and prioritize remaining ‘Yes’ actions needed in ‘Combined Access’ list | None | Finish design work and set-up for when capacity allows work to begin in spring 2016 | No currently dedicated funds | $5,550,000 |
4 | Path from Wiegand to Orchard Court/Fam Housing, Ballard Extension accessible entrance, parking lots (3380, 3269, 3280) | None | Continue to implement removal of high priority barriers from assessment, continue work on ‘Yes’ action needed items in ‘Combined Access’ list | None | Begin work in spring on first tier Classroom Committee priorities | No currently dedicated funds | $5,450,000 |
5 | Address remaining ATG barriers, parking lots (3333, 3341, 3286, 3282, 3284, 3205, 3281) | None | Continue to implement removal of high priority barriers, finish work on 'Yes' action needed items in ‘Combined Access’ list | None | Finish work on remaining first tier Classroom Committee priorities | No currently dedicated funds | $5,450,000 |
Total Cost | $6,000,000 | $1,400,000 | $10,500,000 | None currently | $3,100,000 | $21,000,000 |