After a brief hiatus, the Western Archives Institute (WAI) will be returning in
Summer 2026 as a fully online program hosted by the Society of California
Archivists (SCA).
WAI is an intensive, two-week program that offers integrated instruction in basic
archival practices. It is designed for individuals with diverse professional goals,
including those whose roles require a foundational understanding of archival skills
but who have little or no prior archival training; those assuming increased
responsibility for archival materials; practicing archivists without formal archival
education; and individuals committed to pursuing a career in archives.
 
The Institute features a diverse curriculum of synchronous sessions that include:
 Introduction to the archival profession and core concepts
  Starting and managing an Archives program
 Principles of archival collection arrangement and description
 Best practices for digitization, digital preservation, and born-digital content
management
 Outreach and public relations
 Reference and access
 Ethical, social, and legal issues in administering archival collections
 Working with communities
 Fundraising for an Archives program
 
Registration fees for WAI are $950 for the two-week program (exact dates in
Summer 2026 are forthcoming). Visit our website to learn about the SCA WAI
Scholarship that covers registration fees. 
 
You can sign up for our mailing list if you’d like to receive updates about the 2026
program dates and deadlines.
 
For additional information please contact Marcella Lees, WAI Administrator, and
Eric Milenkiewicz, WAI Associate Administrator, at wai@calarchivists.org.