When records are no longer used regularly by the offices that created them, the records are considered “inactive.” Many inactive records have long-term value to Tufts, and need to be retained for legal or historical purposes. The Records Retention Schedule lists records found throughout the University, tells us how long to keep them, and what to do with them when the retention period expires - either transfer records to the Archives or destroy them. It applies to both paper and electronic records: content, not format, determines record retention.
The Records Retention Schedule may be supplemented by records policies. These are created when an office, department, or program has a specific function that creates unique records not covered by the Schedule. For assistance using the Schedule, or creating a supplemental records policy, please contact the Archives.
Note: AS&E staff and faculty, please see additional guidance in the Academic Departments & Programs Records Policy.