What is a Record Schedule?
Retention Policies Set for Records
A
Records Schedule is
a policy document that identifies and describes an organization's records, and provides instructions for the disposition of the record. A record schedule lets us know how long to keep a record, and when to transfer the record to the Archives or destroy it. A record schedule also shares the manner in which a record can be destroyed through recycling or confidential destruction. There are only two courses of action to occur once a record falls outside of the Record Schedule retention:
Transferring Records or
Destroying Records.
What does a Schedule look like?
According to the record schedule UWADM007 below, each Schedule sets forth a Schedule number, retention period, disposal method, and if the record is considered confidential. Remember - a Record Schedule applies to all organizational records, in any form. Again, this can be a paper document or an electronic document. Electronic records can be on a computer drive, video, DVD or other electronic format such as being Cloud based.
Interpreting a Record Schedule
| Schedule Requirement |
Explanation |
Record Schedule Example |
| Record Schedule Number |
The assigned schedule number assigned by the Public Records Board. |
UWADM014 |
| Record Type |
Record description by topic. |
Unit/Department Training/Course Materials |
| Description |
Full description of the record. |
Materials prepared and used by staff to provide information targeted to internal and external audiences. This series may include handouts, flyers, presentation files, or any other materials used in the course of training sessions. |
| Retention Period |
Duration a record is kept. |
EVT + 0. (After the end of Course + 0 years) |
| Event |
The factor that determines the use of a record. |
End of Course or when no longer relevant to course. |
| Mode of Disposal |
How you should dispose of a record once the retention period has passed. |
Destroy. |
| Confidentiality Requirements |
Determines if a record is considered confidential. |
No. (If record IS confidential, it must be destroyed confidentially, not through a regular recycle or shredder. It would be shown as: Yes. See Destruction of Records). |
| Copies |
Determines if copies must also follow the same requirements for the record. |
Destroy when no longer needed. (This means all copies can be destroyed without waiting for the retention period to pass). |
Where can I find one?
See
Record Schedules for links to existing University record schedules.