Distance Education Captioning and Transcription Grant (DECT)

The DECT represents a commitment by the California Community Colleges to expand access to distance education to all students. Further, DECT provides a means for colleges to promote faculty innovation in the use of audio, video, and multi-media content in distance learning classes. The system's substantial support for DECT is also a recognition that distance learning is the fastest growing segment of CCC enrollment. Funding has been authorized by the Chancellor's Office to aid California Community Colleges in improving their capacity to serve disabled student populations and, in some instances, the general public, by ensuring the accessibility of aural information. Services will be provided to colleges through a process whereby the grantee contracts with outside captioning vendors to provide assistance to any community college that elects to use these vendors as well as establish policies and procedures to reimburse colleges that contract these services directly with a captioning vendor not under contract.