Canvas: Self-Restore an Archived Course

This article is intended for Penn State faculty. staff, and students who teach or manage courses or Prides in Canvas.

According to the Penn State Canvas Course Archiving Policy, Canvas courses will remain available on the Canvas Dashboard for one year after the end of the academic semester in which the course was offered. After that year, the course will be archived by default and removed from the Canvas Dashboard and All Courses list. Users with the Teacher, Course Admin, or Pride Admin role can self-restore archived courses. Follow the steps below to self-restore an archived course.

Self-Restore an Archived Course

1. Log in to Canvas.
2. Navigate to the Dashboard.
3. Click the Course Archive Manager button located in the bottom right of the screen.
   
   NOTE: If you only see the Pride Manager button, use the Pride Archive Manager link on the Pride Manager page. If you are still unable to access the archive manager, please contact the IT Service Desk at canvas@psu.edu or 814-865-HELP for further assistance. 
   
   
   Figure 1: Canvas Dashboard showing Course Archive Manager button
   
   
4. Locate the course name in the Previously Archived list.
5. Click the Restore check box beside the name of the course you wish to restore.
   
   
   Figure 2: List of Previously Archived courses
   
   
6. Click OK on the pop-up window that asks if you are sure you would like to restore the course. The course will then be moved to the Pending Archive list.
7. Locate your course in the Pending Archive list.
8. Click the Extend check box beside the course title.
9. You will receive a success message, and the course will reappear on your Dashboard.
   
   NOTES:
   
   • If any one of the designated teachers elects to restore the course, the course will be restored for all teachers.
   • Instructors who wish to reopen a restored course to students must remove/update the course end date. When a course is archived, the end date becomes the archived date. Students will not be able to access the course if the instructor does not change this date.
   • It may be necessary to re-add other users with the teacher, designer, or course admin role.

• Canvas Course Archiving Policy
• Canvas: Opt-Out of Course Archiving