Accessibility

Pre-existing Content Guidelines

How to decide what to do about pre-existing online content…
First, determine if the content is compliant. If it is compliant, no action is needed. If it is not, determine if the content is exempt. If it is exempt, no action is needed. If it is not, determine if it qualifies for archiving. If it qualifies, it may be submitted for archiving. If it does not, then it must be remediated or removed. Details are provided in the text below this flowchart.

Is the content compliant?

  1. Visit https://accessibility.ucr.edu/digital-accessibility to learn how to produce compliant content.
  2. If the content is compliant, no additional action is needed. 
  3. If the content is not compliant, check if the content is exempt. 
     

Is the content exempt?

  1. Do any of these situations apply?
    • Is it a file (i.e., document, spreadsheet, presentation, pdf) that is either:
      • Not currently used to access or participate in any university services or activities, including instruction or research? OR 
      • About a specific person, property, or account? 
    • Was it created, and currently controlled, by a third party that was not under a contractual or licensing arrangement with UCR when the content was created? 
    • Is it a social media post created before April 24, 2026? 
  2. If YES, then the content is exempt. No additional action is needed.
  3. If NO, then the content is non-exempt and must be archived, remediated or removed.

Does the content qualify for archiving?

  1. Are BOTH of these conditions met? 
  • It was created before April 24, 2026, or reproduces physical media created before this date; AND
  • It is historical content that is outdated or superfluous and is being retained exclusively for reference or recordkeeping. 
  1. If YES, then the content may be submitted for official archiving. 
    • Old Canvas courses are automatically archived in Canvas for three years before being transferred to a longer-term archive in K16. No additional action is needed. 
    • UCR already has officially archived hundreds of websites. To check if your content has been archived, visit UCR’s web archive. 
      • If you find your content, you may delete it from its original location and retrieve it from the archive later, if needed. 
      • To add your content to the archive, submit a request to ITS. After it has been added, delete it from its original location. 
    • Archived content that is subsequently retrieved and altered after April 24, 2026 no longer qualifies for archiving.
    • Digital content that is essential for conducting university business, including instruction or research, should not be archived. Instead, the content should be remediated. 
  1. If NO, then the content must be remediated (made compliant) or removed.