Sean Ruppert’s commitment to supporting instructors and creating accessible learning experiences has made him an indispensable part of the UW-Stevens Point community. This year, his dedication was recognized with a University Academic Staff Excellence Award, honoring his exceptional contributions to teaching, learning and instructional technology across campus.
Since joining UW-Stevens Point in 2014, Ruppert has served as an instructional technology support specialist with the Center for Inclusive Teaching and Learning (CITL). In that role, he supports some of the university’s most important instructional technology systems, including Canvas, Kaltura, Explorance Blue and Qualtrics. His work ranges from day-to-day technical support and course development to helping instructors identify technology solutions that enhance their teaching.
For faculty and staff, Ruppert has become a trusted resource known for his technical expertise, patience and willingness to help. His support often extends beyond a typical workday, responding to instructors who need assistance during early mornings, evenings, weekends and holidays.
“Sean is a tremendous support to faculty and staff,” said Jess Bowers, associate professor and field coordinator in the Department of Sociology and Social Work. “Sean goes above and beyond to problem solve and support faculty in a timely manner, and he always does this with a positivity, kindness and understanding.”
Ruppert’s work has been particularly impactful as the university has prepared for major changes in digital accessibility requirements. He has played a central role in the university’s Title II accessibility efforts, participating in the Title II working group, supporting faculty development and helping remediate inaccessible course materials.
He has helped promote Digital Accessibility 101 training and served as a primary author of the Bite-Sized Remediation Guide. He also developed two AI agents designed to help provide alternative representations of images, demonstrating his ability to pair emerging technology with practical accessibility solutions.
Ruppert also played a key role in launching UW-Stevens Point’s Captioning Technology Remediation Program, which addresses approximately 12,000 hours of instructor-created video used in university courses. He helped establish the need for the program, secure funding, hire student captioning technicians and develop the workflows necessary to systematically remediate instructional media.
“Sean has also demonstrated initiative and creativity by building out a student staff operation to support the captioning of instructional media,” said Andy Held, associate director of the Disability Resource Center. “This certainly positively impacts instructors and learners, but I also believe it immensely impacts those student employees who are learning a specialty skill and developing important interpersonal skills under Sean’s tutelage.”
Ruppert’s accessibility work reflects a proactive approach to inclusive teaching. Through course remediation, faculty training and improved captioning practices, he has helped move UW-Stevens Point toward an instructional environment where accessibility can be incorporated from the beginning rather than addressed only after problems arise.
During the university’s transition to Canvas, Ruppert provided individual faculty consultations and group workshops to help instructors adapt to the new learning management system. He continues to assist faculty with course design, online exams, course settings and instructional technology.
“On a regular basis, the faculty in our department comment on how helpful Sean is, and many of us are unsure how we would get by without his assistance,” Bowers said. “Sean’s technology skills, organization and ability to problem solve help to relieve stress on faculty and students.”
Ruppert’s influence also reaches beyond the university. He has served as a representative to the UW System Learning Technology Development Council since 2016, including service on its executive committee from 2019 to 2022. The council researches, explores and helps shape instructional technology across the Universities of Wisconsin.
Ruppert’s colleagues describe him as dependable, approachable, knowledgeable and consistently willing to help. Much of his work happens behind the scenes, but its impact is felt throughout his work in classrooms, online courses, faculty offices and in the experiences of students who depend on accessible learning environments.
“I am humbled by my nomination,” Ruppert said. “The nomination itself is validation that my goals for supporting instruction at UWSP are accurate.”
The Academic Staff Excellence Award recognizes Ruppert not simply for his technical expertise, but for the way he uses that expertise in service of the university’s instructional mission. Through his commitment to faculty support, accessibility, innovation and student success, he has helped UW-Stevens Point navigate an increasingly technology-driven educational environment while ensuring that technology remains a tool for inclusion and effective teaching.