Implementing Universal Design for Learning in Online Courses to Support Multilingual Students in Higher Education

The COVID-19 pandemic impacted traditional pedagogies and modalities for facilitating instruction to all students, including those enrolled in higher education courses. Given the disruptions to in-person learning and the growing interest in distance education, higher education institutions are increasing the number of asynchronous online and blended courses in educational programs. This increase also coincides with the growing numbers of diverse students, including those from multilingual backgrounds, across college campuses in the United States. Student diversity calls for more inclusive instructional delivery modes. This article describes Universal Design for Learning (UDL), a framework designed to enhance teaching and learning for all students. It also explains how university faculty can implement UDL in online courses in higher education and in preservice teacher preparation courses. Finally, the article discusses the implications of UDL implementation for multilingual students enrolled in higher education courses.