Marian University congratulates Dr. Pan Liu, Marian’s assistant professor of communication, whose latest scholarship is making national contributions to accessibility in digital research. Dr. Liu has co-authored a chapter titled “Universal Design (UD) Practices and Accessibility Disclosure Statements: Best Practices in Web-Based Research,” which will appear in the forthcoming Routledge volume Evolving Journalism Research Methods: Applications, Trends, Analyses.
The chapter outlines emerging best practices for documenting accessibility in web-based research through accessibility disclosure statements—tools designed to strengthen transparency, ethics, and inclusivity in academic work. By identifying three types of disclosure statements and offering practical guidance, Dr. Liu and his colleagues provided an important resource for scholars, instructors, and students.
“This project reflects my ongoing commitment to promoting inclusivity in communication research and teaching,” said Dr. Liu. “Our goal was to create a resource that not only strengthens ethical research standards but also provides instructors and students with concrete models for practicing Universal Design in their own work.”
This effort spans Pittsburg State University and the University of Kentucky and contributes to the national Project IRIS Best Practice Framework. Through his research, Dr. Liu advances Marian University’s mission of educating transformative leaders and exemplifies Marian’s Franciscan values assuring that future communication and media practices remain ethical, inclusive, and accessible to all.