LMS Archiving: Fast-Tracking WCAG Compliance at UC Riverside

Ensuring a fully accessible learning environment is a critical priority for colleges and universities today. The University of California, Riverside (UCR) has long been committed to inclusivity, but as accessibility standards evolve, so must the way institutions manage digital course content. Faced with the challenge of making thousands of online course materials compliant with new Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) beginning in early 2026, UCR needed a practical, scalable solution that would not only help them meet compliance requirements but also improve the student experience.^Footnote1

Rather than taking on the impossible task of manually remediating all legacy content, UCR turned to Canvas Archiving powered by K16 Solutions—an innovative solution that enables higher education institutions to securely store and manage course content while prioritizing accessibility for current and future courses.

Addressing a Growing Challenge

Like many institutions, UCR had accumulated years of course content in its Canvas learning management system (LMS). While these materials were invaluable, not all of them met accessibility standards. Retrofitting them for compliance would be costly and time-consuming.

Chief Information Officer Matthew Gunkel and his team needed a strategy that would meet the following goals:

• Reduce the immediate burden of accessibility remediation
• Allow instructional designers and faculty to focus on making active courses compliant
• Ensure archived content can be retrieved, reviewed, and updated when needed

Implementing an Effective Archiving Strategy

With Canvas Archiving, UCR developed a strategic approach to managing its course content. "Canvas Archiving allows us to reduce the burden of retroactive accessibility remediation, enabling our team to prioritize making active courses fully WCAG compliant while ensuring historical content remains accessible when needed," Gunkel noted. The university began archiving older, inactive courses, removing them from the active LMS environment while maintaining access for future review. This streamlined workflow allowed faculty and instructional designers to dedicate their efforts to ensuring that active courses met WCAG standards.

"By leveraging technology, we can efficiently manage our course content and focus on delivering accessible and engaging learning materials to our students," Gunkel explained. "Canvas Archiving allows us to take a proactive, rather than reactive, approach to digital accessibility compliance, ensuring our learning environments are inclusive from the start."

Delivering Efficiency, Compliance, and a Better Student Experience

Since implementing Canvas Archiving, UCR has seen several immediate benefits:

• Significantly reduced the volume of content requiring immediate remediation, making accessibility compliance a more achievable goal
• Freed up resources to focus on active courses, ensuring students receive an inclusive, high-quality learning experience
• Created a sustainable long-term strategy for digital accessibility, allowing archived content to be updated and reintroduced as needed.

Establishing a Model for Higher Education

UCR's approach highlights how institutions can proactively address digital accessibility challenges without overloading faculty and staff. Canvas Archiving powered by K16 Solutions provides a structured, cost-effective solution that helps colleges and universities meet compliance standards while improving overall course management.

As accessibility expectations evolve, UCR's strategic use of archiving ensures compliance remains a priority—without disrupting the student learning experience.

For institutions navigating similar challenges, Canvas Archiving offers an innovative, scalable approach that balances compliance, efficiency, and long-term sustainability.

Note

1. Melanie Bennett, "New Digital Accessibility Rule for Public Schools, Community Colleges, and Public Universities," United Educators, June 2024. Jump back to footnote 1 in the text.↩