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    • UMB HomeAbout UMBPolicies and ProceduresLibraryInformation TechnologyInformation Technology Policies
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    UMB Data Retention-Archival Policy

    X-99.07(A)  |  Information Technology  |  Approved   |  Last Reviewed April 30, 2024

    Responsible VP/AVP: Peter J. Murray, PhD, CAS, MS

    Applies to: Faculty, Staff

    Policy Statement

    The University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) and the State of Maryland require that different types of records be retained for specific periods of time, and has designated official repositories for their maintenance. 

    Purpose

    The University is committed to effective record retention to preserve its history, meet legal standards, optimize the use of space and computer storage, optimize the cost of record retention, and ensure that outdated and useless records are destroyed.

    Policy Development Process

    UMB has researched relevant State document retention laws and sample archiving- retention policies from the University of Iowa, University of Massachusetts, and Cornell University.  UMB has also consulted with EDUCAUSE to determine best practices where they exist. What follows is a general listing of documents maintained by UMB departments and State of Maryland retention requirements.  If no requirements were found, an average retention length was derived from the policies of the three schools listed above.

    Retention Rules

    Accounting Records
    General Accounting Records
     
     

    CoD, Bank Deposit slips:                  

    Distribution of Charges

    Memorandum of Adjustments Monthly Report: State Funds

    Retain for 3 yrs/audited, then destroy
    Special Accounting Reports 
     
    LA Audit Reports Retain for 10 years, then destroy
    Non-LA Audits                                            Permanent
    Books of Final Entry/GL                              Permanent
    Budget and Fiscal Planning Records                     

    Budget Estimates, Bud. Sched.         

    Amendment, Materials & Supplies

    Physical Inventory, Report of Fixed Assets, Report of Materials And Supplies, Request for Position Action

    Retain 3 yrs/audited, destroy

    Payroll Accounting Records       

    Employee Roster, Payroll & Check   

    Register, Payroll Exceptions Time, Payroll Transmittals, Payroll Warrants

    Retain 3 yrs/audited, destroy

    Misc. Accounting Records

    Bank Books, Statements, Deposit Receipts,  

    Budget papers & work sheets, Cancelled

    Checks, Delivery Orders & Receipts, Gas Withdrawal & Mileage Reports, Memo Receipts & Condemnation Reports, Paid

    Bills and Invoices, Paid Bonds & Coupons, Periodic Fin. Reports to State Agencies, Receipt Copies & Stubs, Receiving Reports, Reconciliation & Trial Balance, Renewable Licenses, Requisitions & POs, Stock Record Cards, Time Sheet, Withholding Tax Forms & Statements (local, state, and Federal)

    Retain 3 yrs/audited, destroy

    Purchasing Records

    Actual Emergency & Repairs Report,           

    Copy of Contract Awarded, Credit

    Memorandum, Notice of Award of Contract, Out-of-schedule Requisition For Supplies, Purchase Order, Report of Partial Delivery, Requisition for Supplies

    Retain 5 yrs/audited, then destroy

    Vendor List

    Retain until superseded, destroy

    Correspondence

    Retain 3 yr, then screen for need

    Personnel Folders

    Application, Appointment Letter, Correspondence  

    Relating to New Appointment, Personnel Payroll     

    Form, Personnel Position Action Request,

    Personnel Recruitment Screening Report, Personnel Transaction Form, Retirement Form, Change of Address Forms, Clearance File, Charges for Removal, Commendations, Contractual Employment documents, Counseling Sessions, Disciplinary Actions, Efficiency Ratings, EOE Statistical Reports, General Correspondence, Grievance Actions, Health Insurance Benefits Forms, Leave Forms, Orientation Program, Position History, Probation, Promotions, Resumes, Suggestion File, Summer Employment, Suspension Actions, Training, Letter of Resignation, Retirement, Transfer, Dismissal

    I-9 Forms (faculty, staff, students)

    Retain 3 yrs after termination

    I.D. Number (EMPL ID)

    Permanent

    History Data

    Name, Address, Social Security Number,                 

    Race, Sex, Birthdate, Increment Date,                      

    Start Date, Classification, Effective Date Of Classification, Employment Status, Salary, Position ID Number for Employee

    Retain 3 yrs, then destroy

    Other Personnel Records

    Worker’s Compensation 1st Report of Injuries          

    Part-time Quarterly reports, Annual Reports,

    Agency/Dept. Personnel Budget Reports

    Retain 5 yrs, then destroy
    Student & Financial Aid Records
     

    Academic Actions (dismissal, etc.)

    5 yrs from graduation or date of last attendance

    Academic integrity code violation: (and related case files)

    Permanent
    Academic records (including narrative Evaluations, competency assess., etc.) Permanent
    Change of Course documentation (Cont. Ed., Summer, Extramural Studies) 5 yrs from date of enrollment
    Change of Grade documentation Permanent
    Change to Student ID Number         Permanent
    Class Lists (original) Permanent Consent to Release Personally Identifiable
    Information (or non-disclosure requests) Kept until next academic year 
    Course Offerings Permanent
    Curriculum Change Authorizations 5 yrs. from graduation or date of last attendance
    Disciplinary Records (findings of violation and related case files) Permanent where penalty imposed is               probation, suspension, or expulsion
    Enrollment Verifications 1 year from enrollment date
    Financial Aid Records (for applicants who Do not enroll) 3 yrs. from date of graduation
    Financial Aid Records (applicants who Enroll) 5 years from graduation date
    Grade Sheets Permanent
    Graduation Lists Permanent
    Hold or encumbrance authorization Until released
    Name Changes Permanent
    Original Grade Sheets  Permanent
    Student Class Schedules  1 Year from graduation or date of last attendance
    Student Registration forms 1 year from registration
    Term Reports  5-7 years. depending on School
    Transcripts Permanent
    Transcript Requests 1 year from submission date
    Transfer Credit Evaluations 5 years from graduation
    Veteran Administration Certifications 5 years from graduation or date oflast attendance
    Withdrawal Authorizations/Leaves of Absence 2 years
    Admissions documents for Applicants who do not enroll 2 years from date of start of application term
    Advanced Placement Records 5 years from date of graduation or date of last attendance
    Letters of Recommendation Until date of admission
    Recruitment Materials Until date of enrollment
    Residency Certificates Until date of enrollment
    Residency Change Documents (non- Resident to Resident) 5 years from graduation or date of last attendance
    Student Waivers for Right of Access Until graduation or date of last attendance
    Transcripts (high school and other college) 5 years from graduation or date of attendance
    International Student Forms (visa documentation, etc.) 5 years
    Degree, grade, enrollment, racial/ethnic stats Permanent
    Schedule of Classes (institutional) Permanent
    State Reports Permanent
    Catalogs Permanent
    Commencement Programs Permanent
    Student Loan records 3 years after loan paid in full
    Tuition and fee charges 6 years
    Academic Personnel
     
    Academic Search Records AA/EEO rules
    Annual Conflict of Interest Disclosure Statements 3 years
    Grievances No cause findings: 3 years from determination; cause findings: Permanent

    Personnel files, appointment letters, forms

    Same as HR
    Tenure or promotion dossiers If approved, 3 years. If tenure denied, 3 years from end of term appointment

    Trustee decisions regarding academic

    Personnel & designated Execs.

    Permanent
    Alumni Affairs and Development
     
    Alumni Records Permanent
    Gift Records Permanent for electronic records
    Gifts of Art Permanent

    Original Gift Letter Agreements (signed By President and donor)

    Permanent
    Original gift letter (all others) Permanent
    Planned gifts (trusts, life income, Agreements, annuities) real estate gifts Permanent
    Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity
     
    Academic search plans/statements 3 years
    Academic search waivers For permanent waivers, 3 years from date of appointment; for limited- term waivers, 3 years from satis- faction of subsequent search require- ments or appointment termination
    Affirmative Action Programs Permanent
    Conciliation Agreements/Orders on Consent Permanent
    Documents supporting other academic or non-Academic selection decisions (e.g., Promotion, termination, compensation) 3 yrs after effective date of decision
    Federal & State required statistics Permanent
    Non-academic search/hiring documentation 3 years from date of appointment
    Sexual harassment complaints, investigations, And findings                                               No-cause findings: 3 yrs. from determination, cause finding: Permanent
    Construction
     
    As-built drawings Permanent
    Contracts and agreements 6 years
    Environmental Health & Safety
     
    Evacuation drill records 5 years
    Fire protection systems records 5 years
    Fume hood testing records 3 years
    Hazardous waster disposal manifests/reports 3 years
    Incident Records 5 years
    Portable extinguisher training records 3 years
    Radiation dose reports Permanent
    Radiation safety training records 3 years

    Radioactive materials license & Safety Committee reports

    Permanent

    Radioactive material receiving/inventory records

    3 years
    Corporate Records
     
    Accreditation Records Permanent
    Board of Regents Minutes Permanent
    Bylaws Permanent
    Charter  Permanent
    Insurance
     

    Certification of insurance, indemnification Agreements hold-harmless agreements, Contracts

    6 years after expiration
    Insurance Policies (liability, property, et al.) Permanent
    Incident reports, Accident reports 4 years after report date
    Legal
     
    Consent orders Permanent
    Court orders Permanent
    Judgments Permanent
    Releases Permanent
    Settlements  Permanent
    Patent and Trademarks
     
    Original executed invention disclosure forms Permanent
    Original executed United State Patent and Trademark Office assignment forms Permanent
    Original Letters, Patents Permanent
    U.S. patent/application correspondence papers Permanent
    U.S. patent/application filing papers 1 yr after issuance of abandonment
    Foreign patent/application-related work papers Permanent
    Original registered Trademarks Permanent
    Trademark-related work papers Permanent
    Original executed licensing agreements Permanent
    Licensing agreement-related work papers 6 yrs from expiration or termination of agreement
    Royalty Records   Life of technology/patent or trademark plus 6 years
    Real Property
     
    Documents for leases, licenses, construction Contracts, other temporary contracts <$50K 6 years after expiration of leases or contract term

    Property deeds, easements, licenses, rights of Way, leases, rights of first refusal, Remainder Interests, mortgages

    Permanent
    Title Insurance Policies 10 years after disposal of property
    Public Safety
     
    Accident Reports 4 years after report date
    Crime Reports 4 years after report date
    Property Damage Reports 4 years after report date
    Sponsored Projects, Contracts, Grants
     
    Animal welfare records  3 years or contract period
    Grant and contract applications, proposals, And supporting documentation

    6 years after close of grant

    (for federal grants/ contracts)

    Human Subject Records 3 years or contract period
    Recombinant DNA research records Permanent

    SOURCES

    • Maryland State Department of Management and Budget, Maryland Manual
    • Maryland State Records Management Guidance
    • Tracy Mitrano, Director of IT Policy, Cornell University and EDUCAUSE Resource
    • Cornell University Retention/Archival Policy
    • University of Iowa Records Management Policy
    • University of Massachusetts Record Management, Retention, and Disposition Policy Guidelines

    • Back to Information Technology Policies

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