Can I back up or export student submissions including files ?

[TedLushchayev]

We are planning to move away from Canvas shortly, as it is too big/expensive for our small needs. I managed to export course content and csv files with grades. But is there a way to export/backup student submissions including files that they submitted? As we have few students still working and for compliance purposes we would like to keep historical records. 

[ProfessorBeyrer · Accepted solution]

Within the user interface for Canvas I'm aware of a couple of options. If you have just a few students, it might be easiest to impersonate them and download all of their submissions using the steps in this guide:

How do I download assignment submissions from all my courses? 

You can also do this for each assignment (or have your instructors do this):

How do I download all student submissions for an assignment?  

When my college made our first switched our LMS, we explored our requirements for record retention and learned that we did not have to retain copies of student submissions. Depending on the laws and regulations for your institution, that might not be the same.

I’m going to mark my response as a solution, but there can be more than one. I hope our colleagues here in the Community share other options.