Latest update:
May 9, 2026 2:47 PM
Dear students, faculty, and staff,
These are the support options available for support this weekend
For Faculty and staff: 714 564 HELP (4357), ext. 0* (Open till 4pm today)
For Students (24/7): 714-480-7407 (This line will be helping all students. Please disregard the initial message referring to SAC Continuing Education Students only)
For Canvas specific issues for either faculty or students (No login or MFA related issues) 844-629-6834 (24/7).
For Faculty, there are helpful resources on the College Distance Education web pages:
Santa Ana College Distance Education
https://www.sac.edu/de
Santiago Canyon College Distance Education
https://www.sccollege.edu/de
May 8, 2026 8:00 PM
Dear students, faculty, and staff,
We are pleased to share that Canvas is back online and available for use.
Access has been re enabled following the implementation of additional security protections recommended by statewide guidance.
As a reminder:
• Multi factor authentication (MFA) is now required to access Canvas.
• If you have not already done so, please ensure your account is enrolled in MFA so you can log in successfully. Using a text message as a backup verification method is the simplest way to get started:
We appreciate your patience and flexibility during this disruption and recognize the impact it has had on teaching and learning. Thank you to faculty and staff for your efforts to maintain instructional continuity, and to students for your understanding as services were restored safely.
If you experience any issues accessing Canvas or need assistance, please contact the ITS Help Desk:
For Faculty and staff: 714 564 HELP (4357), ext. 0*
For 24/7 Student Technology Support: 714-480-7407 (This line will be helping all students. Please disregard the initial message referring to SAC Continuing Education Students only)
May 8, 2026 7:00 PM
Dear students, faculty, and staff,
ITS has made great progress performing the technical adjustments recommended by the State Chancellor’s Office and the CCC Security Center. At this point, we anticipate Canvas being back online within one to two hours.
Thank you for your patience and understanding.
May 8, 2026 5:00 PM
Dear students, faculty, and staff,
As part of the steps recommended by the State Chancellor’s Office and the California Community Colleges Security Center, multifactor authentication (MFA) will be required before access to the Canvas system is re-established.
Multifactor authentication (MFA) adds an extra layer of protection by requiring at least two forms of verification to confirm your identity. These typically include:
1. Your password, and
2. An additional verification method, such as a text message, phone call, mobile app notification, or hardware token.
Many of you may already be using MFA when accessing Office 365 or other district applications. If so, no further action is needed. You will be ready to access Canvas once it comes back online.
If you are not currently using MFA, or are unsure whether it is set up, we strongly recommend enrolling now so your account is ready to access Canvas when service is restored.
To enroll in MFA, please follow the instructions at the link below. Using a text message as a backup verification method is the simplest way to get started:
If you need assistance or encounter any issues, please contact the ITS Help Desk:
For Faculty and staff: 714 564 HELP (4357), ext. 0*
For 24/7 Student Technology Support: 714-480-7407 (This line will be helping all students. Please disregard the initial message referring to SAC Continuing Education Students only)
May 8, 2026 3:00 PM
Dear students, faculty, and staff,
The District’s Information Technology Services department continues to work on performing the technical adjustments recommended by the State Chancellor’s Office and the CCC Security Center. At this point, we anticipate at least 12 hours worth of work before system access can be restored. Once Canvas is up and running, there is additional work that will need to be done to finish our efforts. We will provide an additional update by 5 p.m.
May 8, 2026 1:10 PM
Dear students, faculty, and staff,
The State Chancellor’s Office and the CCC Security Center consider it reasonable for districts to re enable access to Canvas at this time, provided that specific technical adjustments are done before system access is restored.
The District’s Information Technology Services department is working on performing these steps as soon as possible and targeting restoring full system access to Canvas.
We will provide an additional update with an ETA by 3 p.m.
May 8, 2026 8:52 AM
Instructure is reporting that Canvas services appear to be back online, but the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office and the CCC Security Center continue to advise colleges to limit access to Canvas until Instructure can formally confirm that students and employees are no longer at risk.
In accordance with statewide guidance, RSCCD will continue to prevent logon access to Canvas until updated guidance is provided by the State Chancellor’s Office. RSCCD is asking students and employees not to attempt to log in to Canvas until further notice.
Additional updates and guidance will be shared with the RSCCD community as more information becomes available.
May 7, 2026, 9:05 PM
Instructure is reporting that Canvas system access is beginning to be restored. The California Community College's Chancellor’s Office, in collaboration with the CCC Security Center is working directly with Instructure to ensure that the system is fully secure. In accordance with statewide guidance, RSCCD will prevent logon access to Canvas until further guidance is provided by the State's Chancellor’s Office.
May 7, 2026 6:45 PM
Canvas Outage – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is happening with Canvas?
Canvas is currently unavailable due to an ongoing cybersecurity‑related incident involving Instructure, the company that provides the Canvas learning management system used by colleges and universities nationwide. As part of its security response and investigation, Instructure has temporarily placed Canvas into maintenance mode.
Is RSCCD experiencing a separate cybersecurity incident?
At this time, there is no indication that RSCCD systems outside of Canvas have been impacted. This is a vendor‑level issue affecting institutions that use Canvas and is not a district/college‑specific incident.
Why is Canvas listed as “under maintenance”?
Based on statewide provided information, Instructure placed Canvas into maintenance mode as part of its response to the cybersecurity incident. This allows Instructure to secure the environment, investigate the issue, and validate system integrity before restoring access.
Is Instructure validating data before restoring Canvas?
Yes. According to statewide provided information, Instructure is following standard cybersecurity protocols, including securing systems, investigating the incident, and validating data integrity prior to restoring service.
Was student or employee information exposed?
Based on information currently shared by Instructure and the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, potentially affected data may include:
- Names
- Email addresses
- Student ID numbers (not Social Security numbers)
- Messages within Canvas
At this time, there is no evidence that passwords, Social Security numbers, dates of birth, or financial information were compromised.
Should I reset my password?
Yes. If you attempted to log in to Canvas after 12:00 p.m. on May 7, RSCCD strongly recommends resetting your password in abundance of caution.
Password reset:
https://rsccd.edu/password
Is it safe to use my college/district email?
District email systems remain operational. However, students and employees should remain alert for phishing or suspicious communications. Be especially cautious of messages that request:
- Passwords or login credentials
- Urgent or threatening action
- Sensitive personal information
- Unknown links or attachments
How long will Canvas remain unavailable?
At this time, Instructure has not provided a confirmed restoration timeline. As is common during active cybersecurity investigations, timelines may change as systems are secured and validated.
Where can I find official updates?
Can students and faculty access course materials right now?
No. While Canvas remains in maintenance mode, Canvas hosted course content and materials are temporarily unavailable.
May 7, 2026 6:19 PM
The California State Chancellor's Office's Security Center has established a page to update on the status of this issue:
Canvas Incident Report
May 7, 2026 4:27 PM
Dear students, faculty, and staff,
Canvas remains down systemwide. The State Chancellor's Office notified us that Instructure, the vendor that provides the Canvas learning management system, has identified an additional security issue and is actively working to resolve it. There is no estimated time for resolution at this point.
For the latest updates, important notices, and support information, please visit Canvas Updates.
Updates will continue to be posted on the link above as information becomes available. Please bookmark this resource.
May 7, 2026 1:52pm
Dear students, faculty, and staff,
Canvas is currently unavailable. This service interruption appears to be associated with ongoing security activity previously reported by Instructure, the vendor that provides the Canvas learning management system. Out of an abundance of caution, we recommend that you
do not attempt to log in to Canvas at this time. If you attempted to log in to Canvas today after 12 noon, we recommend resetting your password as a precaution by visiting:
https://rsccd.edu/password
If you have questions or need assistance, please contact the ITS Help Desk at
714‑564‑HELP (4357).
We will share additional updates as more information becomes available.
