Records Retention Schedule

Records document student academic standing, including academic deficiency and the status changes of academically deficient students. Records may include reports containing student names, grade point averages (GPAs), grade point deficiencies, and numbers of previous suspensions and probations; student petitions for re-evaluation; report of student progress toward academic readmission/removal of probation status at other institutions; academic honors and awards; and related documentation and correspondence.

Record Copy: Registrar
Retention: 3 years, destroy.

Other Copies: Colleges, Units
Retention: 1 year, destroy.

CONFIDENTIAL DESTRUCTION: Records in this series containing confidential information should be destroyed by pulping, shredding, or incineration.

Records document summary information relating to student admission programs which may be used for control, planning or review. Records may include but are not limited to working papers; drafts; transitory reports; final reports; and related documentation and reports. Typical report subject categories include the number of new students, advanced placement, and Grade Point Averages summaries.

Record Copy: Admissions
Retention: (a) Permanent for final reports; (b) 5 years for all other records, destroy.

Transfer the record copy of all final reports to the University Archives after 5 years. 

Other Copies: Colleges, Units
Retention: 1 year, destroy.

Records document the preparation of students earning degrees and/or certification for licenses or certificates to enter a profession and forms the basis of the initial certification for various professions. Records may include applications for admission to a program; registration for practicum hours and evidence of the completion of the practicum; transcripts; narrative evaluations on practicum; notice of completion of hours required for certification; recommendations and evaluations; and related correspondence.

Record Copy: Colleges, Schools, Departments
Retention: 5 years after initial certification, destroy.

Other Copies: Units
Retention: 1 year, destroy.

CONFIDENTIAL DESTRUCTION: Records in this series containing confidential information should be destroyed by pulping, shredding, or incineration.

Records document official record of students enrolled in courses taught. The series is used to cross-check students who have enrolled against those who have registered as well as in the generation of statistical reports. Information in the series includes student names; Student ID Number; term; and enrollment/registration status.

Record Copy: Registrar
Retention: 1 term, destroy.

Other Copies: Colleges, Units
Retention: 1 term, destroy.

CONFIDENTIAL DESTRUCTION: Records in this series containing confidential information should be destroyed by pulping, shredding, or incineration.

Records document commencement program planning and implementation at the institution. Records may include but are not limited to commencement attendance forms; planning records created by commencement committees or other planning groups; and related documentation and correspondence.

Record Copy: Student Life
Retention: (a) Permanent for commencement programs; (b) Until degrees conferred for commencement attendance forms, destroy; (c) 2 years for all other records, destroy.

Annually transfer a copy of the commencement program to the University Archives.

Other Copies: Units
Retention: 1 year, destroy.

CONFIDENTIAL DESTRUCTION: Records in this series containing confidential information should be destroyed by pulping, shredding, or incineration.

Records document students’ requests to have diplomas and other graduation records distributed to specific addresses. Records include signed cards listing permanent addresses for diplomas to be mailed to; indicating that fees have been paid; and listing students’ names, college or school within the institution, degrees granted, and dates of requests.

Record Copy: Registrar
Retention: 1 year, destroy.

Records document enrollments which may be used for planning and research. Information contained in the reports includes student names and levels, grade point averages, demographic data, and academic majors. Records may include but are not limited to working papers; final reports; and related documentation and correspondence.

Record Copy: Registrar
Retention: (a) Permanent for final reports; (c) 2 years for all other records, destroy.

Transfer the record copy of final reports to the University Archives after 4 years.

Other Copies: Colleges
Retention: 4 years, destroy.

CONFIDENTIAL DESTRUCTION: Records in this series containing confidential information should be destroyed by pulping, shredding, or incineration.

Records document work of student subject mastery in institution courses not returned to the student. Records may include but are not limited to examinations and answers; quizzes and answers; homework assignments; course papers; term papers; and essay assignments. This series does not include graduate student qualifying or comprehensive examinations.

Record Copy: Units
Retention: (a) 1 term after completion for uncontested grade results, destroy; (b) until resolved for contested grade results, destroy.

CONFIDENTIAL DESTRUCTION: Records in this series containing confidential information should be destroyed by pulping, shredding, or incineration.

Records document the process of student information release requests and consent authorizations or denials in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. Records may include but are not limited to requests for formal hearings; requests for release of personally identifiable information; records of disclosures made to third parties; student statements regarding hearing panel decisions; written decisions of the hearing panel; written consent of the student to disclose records; waivers for rights of access; and related documentation and correspondence.

Record Copy: Registrar, Dean of Students
Retention: (a) Life of the affected record or until student terminates waiver for written consent of the student to disclose records and waivers for rights of access, destroy; (b) Life of the affected record for all other records, destroy.

CONFIDENTIAL DESTRUCTION: Records in this series containing confidential information should be destroyed by pulping, shredding, or incineration.

Records document grades received by students for the term. This is the record copy of reports distributed to students at the end of each term. Individual forms include course numbers and titles; grades awarded; grade point average; student name; and social security number.

Record Copy: Registrar
Retention: 1 term, destroy.

CONFIDENTIAL DESTRUCTION: Records in this series containing confidential information should be destroyed by pulping, shredding, or incineration.

Records document grades awarded by instructors and serves as the basis for students’ official academic records. Records include student names and student ID numbers; course titles and numbers; sections; grades awarded; and instructors’ signatures.

Record Copy: Registrar
Retention: (a) 10 years for records created after implementation of the Student Information System, destroy; (b) 25 years for records created before implementation of the Student Information System, destroy.

Other Copies: Units
Retention: 1 year, destroy.

CONFIDENTIAL DESTRUCTION: Records in this series containing confidential information should be destroyed by pulping, shredding, or incineration.

Records document students’ admission into graduate programs at the institution and their subsequent academic progress resulting in completion of degrees. (The official institutional academic record for all graduate students is maintained by the Registrar’s Office). Records may include but are not limited to applications for admission to Graduate School; notices of admission; standardized placement and evaluation exams; transcripts; requests to audit courses; major department/degree change requests; assignment of an advisor; composition of dissertation/thesis committee and any changes thereof; proposed program sheets; transmittal sheets for records; statements of goals and objectives; certification of transferred courses; grade reports; course waiver requests; removal of incomplete grades forms; seven year time-limit appeal records; oral and written exam results — preliminary, qualifying and comprehensive; report of final oral examination and thesis credit for advanced degree; thesis title card approvals; petition for change in graduate program; petitions or letters requesting exemption from institution regulations or procedures; advising checklists; transcripts from other institutions; on-leave requests and approvals, official graduation audit; program advisors’ reports showing progress towards academic degrees; advancement to candidacy forms; awards; and related documentation and correspondence.

Record Copy: Graduate School
Retention: 20 years after degree completed, destroy.

Other Copies: Colleges, Units
Retention: 7 years after degree completed, destroy.

CONFIDENTIAL DESTRUCTION: Records in this series containing confidential information should be destroyed by pulping, shredding, or incineration.

Records document grievances brought forward by students against the institution which do not result in litigation. Grievances may pertain to academic issues; housing; affirmative action and equal opportunity; student conduct; and other issues. Records include notices of grievance; informal discussion notes; grievance responses; formal hearing notes (including audio tapes); final summary statements; settlement agreements; appeals documentation; and related records.

Record Copy: Office of Student Life, Mediation, Affirmative Action
Retention: (a) 3 years after last enrollment for appealed grievances, destroy (b) 3 years after resolution for grievances not appealed, destroy.

Other Copies: Colleges, Units
Retention: 3 years after resolution, destroy.

CONFIDENTIAL DESTRUCTION: Records in this series containing confidential information should be destroyed by pulping, shredding, or incineration.

Records document departmental approval for students to enroll in independent study courses. Records may include but are not limited to permission sheets with students’ names; course names; number of credits; and faculty signatures.

Record Copy: Colleges, Schools, Units
Retention: 1 year, destroy.

Records document test scores, class work scores, and final grades for students which may be used as back-up to the official academic records held by the Registrar. Records may include but are not limited to instructors’ grade books; grade confirmation reports; grade confirmation and change records; and final grade rosters.

Record Copy: Colleges, Units
Retention: 2 years, destroy.

CONFIDENTIAL DESTRUCTION: Records in this series containing confidential information should be destroyed by pulping, shredding, or incineration.

Records document institution assistance to international students who have been admitted to academic programs. These records primarily concern institution admissions, immigration issues, and other non-academic matters. Records may include but are not limited to copies of visas; scholarship information; institution admissions forms; graduate school applications; transcripts of previous college work; grade reports of prior college work; grade reports from institutional courses; international student advisors’ notes; degree completion certificates; explanations for student withdrawals; recommendations and evaluations of students; and related documentation and correspondence.

Record Copy: International Affairs
Retention: (a) 7 years after last enrollment for all student records of matriculates, destroy (b) 1 year after failure to enroll for all student records of non-matriculates, destroy.

Other Copies: Units
Retention: 5 years after last enrollment for other copies of matriculates files, destroy; 1 year after failing to enroll for other copies of non-matriculates files, destroy.

CONFIDENTIAL DESTRUCTION: Records in this series containing confidential information should be destroyed by pulping, shredding, or incineration.

Records document the administration of student internship, practicum and cooperative education programs. Programs may be within the institution or off campus and for class credit and/or pay. Records may include but are not limited to applications for internships inside and external to the institution; agreements with departments; postings/notices; student resumes; transcripts; copies of contracts; proposed institution listings; notes; and related documentation and correspondence.

Record Copy: Career Center, Colleges, Units
Retention: 5 years, destroy.

Other Copies:
Retention: 1 year, destroy.

CONFIDENTIAL DESTRUCTION: Records in this series containing confidential information should be destroyed by pulping, shredding, or incineration.

Records document students or applicants name changes reported to the admissions or registrar’s offices by students. Records may include but are not limited to letters requesting change in name; name change forms; lists or reports of students with changed names; and related documentation and correspondence.

Record Copy: Registrar, Admissions
Retention: 5 years after degree completed or last enrollment, destroy.

CONFIDENTIAL DESTRUCTION: Records in this series containing confidential information should be destroyed by pulping, shredding, or incineration.

Records document services rendered to clients by administering tests required of students seeking admission to various programs or seeking to substitute already acquired knowledge for formal college courses. Tests administered include Scholastic Aptitude (SAT); American College (ACT); Graduate Record Examination (GRE); Medical School Admission (MCAT); Pharmacy School Admission (PCAT); Business School Admission (GMAT); National Teacher Education (NTE); Veterinary College Admission Test (VCAT); and Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Records may include but are not limited to testing rules and regulations; rosters of test takers; seating charts; supervisors’ reports; and vouchers for payment of testing. This series does not include test scores.

Record Copy: Counseling and Testing Center
Retention: 3 years after testing date, destroy.

CONFIDENTIAL DESTRUCTION: Records in this series containing confidential information should be destroyed by pulping, shredding, or incineration. 

Records document and tracks the application, selection, and progress in special instructional programs of elementary through high school and non-institution students belonging to special, minority, or disadvantaged groups. Examples of programs to which this series applies are Science and Mathematics Investigative Learning Experiences (SMILE), Upward Bound, High School Equivalency, and other non-institution programs. Records may include but are not limited to application and admission documentation; personal and family information; medical and health documentation; selection and decision making documentation; TRiO programs documentation; notification of admission and non-admission; recommendations and evaluative materials; copies of academic records; counseling and advising notes and documentation; housing and conduct documentation; federal student aid reports; risk release and insurance forms; immigration and citizenship documentation; financial responsibility records; reports; and related documentation and correspondence.

Record Copy: Academic Learning Services
Retention: 3 years after separation from program, destroy.

CONFIDENTIAL DESTRUCTION: Records in this series containing confidential information should be destroyed by pulping, shredding, or incineration.

Records document declarations filed by students regarding state residency status which is critical for determining tuition status. Records may include but are not limited to affidavits; correspondence regarding residency; and related documentation.

Record Copy: Admissions
Retention: 5 years from date status determined, destroy.

Records document student participation in the Services to Students with Disabilities Program. Records may include but are not limited to health professional evaluation reports; recommendations for student applicants; high school transcripts and academic work-sheets; autobiographical essays; copies of applications for admission; copies of notices of admission; special admissions applications checklists; questionnaires; physicians’ statements and letters of recommendation; counseling interview notes and referrals; and related documentation and correspondence.

Record Copy: Dean of Students
Retention: 5 years after last contact, destroy.

CONFIDENTIAL DESTRUCTION: Records in this series containing confidential information should be destroyed by pulping, shredding, or incineration.

Records document the academic progress of graduate and undergraduate matriculated students at the institution. Records may include but are not limited to institution academic transcripts; high school and non-institutional college transcripts; applications; notices of admission, readmission, denial and acceptance; grade reports; records of grade changes; reservation of credit requests; petitions for exemption from institution regulations and procedures; applications for withdrawal from the institution forms; advanced standing reports; standardized examination reports; letters of recommendation; vault number index card file; and related documentation and correspondence.

Record Copy: Admissions, Registrar
Retention: (a) Permanent for institutional academic transcripts, applications for admission, and grade change records of students awarded degrees; (b) 7 years after students graduation/last enrollment for all other records, destroy.

Other Copies: Units
Retention: 5 years after last enrollment for all undergraduate students records, destroy; 7 years after last enrollment for all graduate students records, destroy.

CONFIDENTIAL DESTRUCTION: Records in this series containing confidential information should be destroyed by pulping, shredding, or incineration.

Records document graduate and undergraduate student statistics in a specific instructional unit and is used to provide summary information which may be used for planning or review. This report may include but is not limited to country of origin; degree(s) held and pursued; financial situation; gender and ethnicity; marital status; veterans status; academic standing and grade point averages; placement test scores; immigration status; and other data elements.

Record Copy: Colleges, Schools, Units
Retention: Until superseded or obsolete, destroy.

Records document the application process for individuals seeking admission to the institution. Records may include but are not limited to admission applications; academic transcripts from other institutions; test scores; letters of admittance; and related documentation and correspondence.

Record Copy: Admissions
Retention: Until matriculation, transfer to the Registrar's Office for inclusion in the Student Academic Records.

CONFIDENTIAL DESTRUCTION: Records in this series containing confidential information should be destroyed by pulping, shredding, or incineration.

Records document undergraduate and/or graduate student’s academic progress within a specific department and or college program. Most of the components in this record series are reference copies of records maintained in the files of the Registrar’s Office and/or the Graduate School and are maintained for the convenience of the student academic advisors. Records may include but are not limited to applications for program admission; notices of admission; grade reports; degree program requirement lists; departmental course waiver forms; program advisors’ reports showing progress towards academic degrees; advising checklist forms; advisors’ notes; copies of transcripts; Program Planning Sheets; advanced standing examination reports; official graduation audits; curriculum posting sheets; recommendation letters; suspension notices; re-admission notices; comprehensive exam results; awards; and related documentation and correspondence.

Record Copy: Academic Advising Offices
Retention: 1 year after degree completed or last enrollment, destroy.

CONFIDENTIAL DESTRUCTION: Records in this series containing confidential information should be destroyed by pulping, shredding, or incineration.

Records document violations of student conduct codes and policies. Records may include but are not limited to incident reports, evidence, notifications of allegation, notifications of decision or
outcome, and related documentation and correspondence.

Record Copy: Office of Student Life, Mediation Program
Retention: (a) 50 years from the date of the initial incident that resulted in expulsion, degree revocation, negative notation on the transcript destroy; (b) 5 years from the date of the initial incident for suspension, unresolved incidents of academic misconduct and all other student conduct files, destroy.

Other Copies: Colleges, Units
Retention: 3 years for all case files, destroy.

CONFIDENTIAL DESTRUCTION: Records in this series containing confidential information should be destroyed by pulping, shredding, or incineration. 

Records document students participation in university clubs, organizations, honor societies and special academic programs such as the Study Abroad Program; volunteer service in community organizations; and honors and awards received. Records include transcripts listing activities, background materials used to validate the activities, and related correspondence.

Record Copy:
Retention: (a) Permanent for transcripts; (b) 5 years after last activity for all other records, destroy.

Transfer the permanent records to the University Archives 5 years after the last activity on the file.

CONFIDENTIAL DESTRUCTION: Records in this series containing confidential information should be destroyed by pulping, shredding, or incineration.

Records document the request by a student to restrict release of information normally provided as directory information as per Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (U.S. Public Law 93-380). This series may contain but is not limited to student requests for non-disclosure of directory information and memoranda distributed to pertinent departments informing units which might have pertinent information not to disclose that information.

Record Copy: Registrar
Retention: (a) 1 year for revoked requests, destroy; (b) permanent for all other records.

Other Copies: Units
Retention: 1 year, destroy.

CONFIDENTIAL DESTRUCTION: Records in this series containing confidential information should be destroyed by pulping, shredding, or incineration.

Records document the history, development, and policies of campus student organizations. Records may include but are not limited to annual review forms; minutes; constitutions and bylaws; committee, subcommittee, and task-force records; Student Senate bill and resolution files; budgets; handbooks; officer and member rosters; scrapbooks; photographs; and related documentation and correspondence.

Record Copy: Organization, University Archives
Retention: Permanent

Transfer records to the University Archives after 5 years.

Records document efforts of the institutional units to recruit students based upon disadvantaged status, academic performance, and other criteria. Records may include but are not limited to prospects lists; interview and conversation notes; photographs; personal information forms and resumes; test scores; academic transcripts; and related documentation and correspondence.

Record Copy: Colleges, Schools, Units
Retention: 5 years, destroy.

CONFIDENTIAL DESTRUCTION: Records in this series containing confidential information should be destroyed by pulping, shredding, or incineration. 

Records document the status of students who are enrolled or have been enrolled and graduated from the academic program. Information on the individual cards may include but is not limited to name; date entered; department; change of school; graduation dates; degrees; previous schools attended; notation of activities and honors; and photographs of individuals.

Record Copy: Registrar, Colleges, Schools, Units
Retention: 20 years, destroy.

CONFIDENTIAL DESTRUCTION: Records in this series containing confidential information should be destroyed by pulping, shredding, or incineration.

Records document student status and enrollment at the institution. Records may include specialized listings and statistical reports pertaining to departmental and college registration, course changes, add/drops, geographical distribution of students, student age and gender data, mortality of classes, student transfers from other schools, student body grade point averages and GPAs of living groups, and veterans enrollment; reports documenting student and enrollment by term; and reports on other topics.

Record Copy: Registrar
Retention: (a) Permanent for summary and annual reports; (b) 3 years for all other records, destroy.

Transfer the record copy of permanent records to the University Archives after 3 years.

Other Copies: Units
Retention: 1 year, destroy.

Records document student enrollment in courses and changes in enrollment. The series also documents admission status changes, affiliation and registration in colleges or schools, and changes in grading basis. Records may include but are not limited to registration forms; registration change forms (add/drop forms); withdrawal forms; application for re-admission forms; change of schools (within the institution) forms; and grading basis (unsatisfactory/satisfactory) change forms.

Record Copy: Registrar
Retention: 1 year, destroy.

Other Copies: Colleges, Units
Retention: 1 year, destroy.

CONFIDENTIAL DESTRUCTION: Records in this series containing confidential information should be destroyed by pulping, shredding, or incineration.

Records document grade changes submitted by instructors through the academic departments to the Registrar. Records may include but are not limited to supplemental grade reports (SGRs); removal of I and E forms; and related documentation and correspondence.

Record Copy: Registrar
Retention: (a) 5 years for records created after implementation of the Student Information System, destroy; (b) 25 years for records created before implementation of the Student Information System, destroy.

Other Copies: Colleges, Units
Retention: 1 year, destroy.

CONFIDENTIAL DESTRUCTION: Records in this series containing confidential information should be destroyed by pulping, shredding, or incineration.

Records document the completion and academic acceptance of graduate theses and dissertations presented to colleges in fulfillment of requirements for graduate degrees. This series includes but is not limited to final and accepted copies of theses and dissertations and final and terminal projects.

Record Copy: University Archives
Retention: Permanent

Other Copies: Colleges, Units
Retention: Until no longer needed.

Records document holds on transcripts and academic reporting information placed by the institution for a number of reasons. This series consists of forms authorizing the holding of academic records and information until a specific action is taken by the subject of the academic record.

Record Copy: Registrar
Retention: Until release of the hold authorization, destroy.

CONFIDENTIAL DESTRUCTION: Records in this series containing confidential information should be destroyed by pulping, shredding, or incineration.

Records document students’ requests for transcripts to be sent to other institutions. Information on the individual form includes student’s present name and other name(s) under which the student attended; social security number; vault number (used in locating the transcript in the Student Record series); home address; phone number; student signature; number of copies of transcript requested; fee status; whether official or unofficial transcripts are desired; date of request; and destination(s) of transcript(s).

Record Copy: Registrar
Retention: 6 months, destroy.

CONFIDENTIAL DESTRUCTION: Records in this series containing confidential information should be destroyed by pulping, shredding, or incineration. 

Records document student completion of degree requirements. Records may include but are not limited to work sheets; transcripts; and transfer course evaluations. The series may also include official graduation audit forms that list students’ names; colleges; majors; degrees; minors; the course loads taken by the applicants for previous three terms; the breakdown of institutional undergraduate degree requirements (as opposed to school, major, or certificate program graduation requirements) and how the applicants have fulfilled them; grade point averages; and deans’ recommendations/ comments and signatures.

Record Copy: Registrar
Retention: 5 years after last enrollment, destroy.

Other Copies: Colleges, Units
Retention: 1 year, destroy.

CONFIDENTIAL DESTRUCTION: Records in this series containing confidential information should be destroyed by pulping, shredding, or incineration.

Records document the entitlement status and enrollment of veterans in the institution. Records include but are not limited to Oregon State Veterans Affairs form 1006M that certifies Oregon resident veterans educational benefits entitlements; individual veteran student records that certify to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs that the student is eligible for educational benefits, is currently enrolled at the institution in a qualifying curriculum, and is maintaining standards required to receive entitlements; veterans attendance reports; and related forms, documentation and correspondence.

Record Copy: Registrar
Retention: 3 years following termination of enrollment period, destroy.

CONFIDENTIAL DESTRUCTION: Records in this series containing confidential information should be destroyed by pulping, shredding, or incineration.