Managing Archived Web Content

For content to be considered “archived” under the regulations and exempt from proactive accessibility remediation, it must meet all of the following four conditions:

1. Created in the Past: The digital content was created before April 24, 2026
2. For Reference Only: The digital content is kept only for historical, research, or recordkeeping purposes.
3. Unchanged: The digital content has not been altered or updated since it was archived.
4. Clearly Identified: The digital content is stored in a dedicated area that clearly identifies it as an archive.

Learn more about archived web content on ada.gov.

Learn more about pre-existing conventional electronic documents on ada.gov.

If your digital content does not meet all four conditions, it is not archived and must meet accessibility standards unless it is subject to another exception set forth in the ADA Title II regulations.

Examples of items that may be archived include but are not limited to:

• Websites for events that happened prior to April 24, 2026.
• A collection of PDF newsletters sent or posted before April 24, 2026.
• A collection of white papers provided as part of University programming prior to April 24, 2026, but which have become outdated and superseded by current white papers.
• A website for a program that has been discontinued and which is no longer updated as of April 24, 2026.
• Digital content for courses taught and completed prior to April 24, 2026.

If you are unsure or have any questions or concerns, please reach out through the Digital Accessibility General Inquiry Form.

An Archive Section

Placing content on a page or in a section of a site with "Archive" (or similar term like "Historical Records") in the page title or main heading.

Example: A page titled "Board of Trustees: 2015-2020 Meeting Minutes Archive."

A Clear Banner

Placing a prominent banner or text box at the top of a page or document.

Example: A banner that reads: "This document is archived and is maintained for historical, research, or recordkeeping purposes only."

A Titled Repository

Storing documents in a repository or folder structure where the folder is clearly labeled as an archive.

Example: A shared drive or document library folder named "Archived Syllabi (Pre-2024)."

Editing archived content “restarts the clock,” even if you archived the content prior to April 24, 2026. If you alter or update properly archived web content on or after April 24, 2026, it must be made fully accessible in keeping with the regulations.

If you make otherwise properly archived content a necessary part of a UK service, program, or activity on or after April 24, 2026, it loses its archived status and will need to be made accessible.

For example:

• An inactive program with a website that had previously been archived becomes active again. You could elect to update the archived website so that it is accessible under current guidelines and remove any archive identifiers. Alternatively, you could elect to develop a new accessible website, leaving the old website archived.
• If students are required to access course materials that you have archived from a class that took place prior to April 24, 2026, for a class they are taking on or after April 24, 2026, those materials must be made accessible under the new regulations.
• If a member of the public must use archived content, e.g., a PDF form available shared via email or from an archived website to participate in a UK program or activity after April 24, 2026, that form must be made accessible under the new regulations.

The University may be required to provide an accessible version of properly archived content upon request from a person with a disability under certain circumstances. Forward requests to and seek assistance and advice from the UK Office of Accessibility and ADA and the Office of Legal Counsel as needed.. You may be called upon to help locate the source file and fulfill the request.