1999-061
Transitory Records
All University Departments (General Records Series)
Records | Active retention (in office) | Semi-active (records centre) | Total retention | Final disposition |
---|---|---|---|---|
All departments creating these records: | S/O | Nil | S/O | Destruction |
Documents of short-term usefulness, created to serve a temporary purpose and/or in the preparation of a final, official record. Upon completion of the final record, the working papers become transitory records and should be destroyed.
Transitory records include:
These records are created, used, retained and managed in accordance with the following authorities:
Transitory records are produced to complete an action or document; once the action or document is complete and finalized, the preparatory records are of no further use.
Retain transitory records only for as long as needed; typically this will be when the event they help to bring about or the final document they are preparatory to is completed and finalized. Beyond this period the records have no further use and should be destroyed. Please be aware that any document kept on file is a university record and is subject to access requests under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
Clearly label and date all draft documents (e.g. “Draft 3, Oct. 2000â€). Long-term retention of drafts (especially when not clearly labelled) increases the risk of relying on inaccurate, unreliable and out-dated information when making decisions. We recommend destroying draft versions when the final document is completed. If need be, create a memorandum or note to file to summarize information or issues excluded or revised during the drafting process.
Avoid putting handwritten, rough notes on file; use the notes to prepare a formal memorandum or note to file, then destroy the rough copies.
RRSDA is in force.
Approved by the University Archivist: 1 Dec 2000
Last revised: 8 January. 2014