Records Management

I. Scope

This policy applies to all employees and authorized agents of George Mason University and to all University Records generated and managed by George Mason University.

II. Policy Statement

The Code of Virginia, §42.1-85, requires that George Mason establish and maintain an active, continuing program for the economical and efficient management of records. George Mason University is required to adhere to all Record Schedules published by the Library of Virginia. Employees and Departments of George Mason are required to ensure that University Records are preserved, maintained, and accessible throughout their lifecycle, in accordance with the Compliance section IV. University Records cannot be destroyed without the authorization of the University Records Officer.

A. The Office of University Records Management is authorized to:

1. Implement a University Records Management Program in keeping with the policies and procedures published by the Library of Virginia.
2. Determine the classification of University Records and identify Essential, Inactive, and Permanent records.
3. Provide guidance and conduct operational reviews as needed of the implementation of the records management policies and practices within the University to discover where policies and standards are met.

B. University Employees and Authorized Agents must:

1. Comply with the Retention and Disposition Record Schedules published by the Library of Virginia and adhere to the University Records processes and practices of their respective university departments.
2. Ensure against premature disposal of University Records in violation of the Virginia Public Records Act and not retain University Records longer than the Retention Record Schedules authorize.
3. Not retain University Records longer than the retention schedule authorizes.
4. Adhere to the Retention and Disposition schedules dictated by federal regulations and accreditation requirements.
5. Ensure that information in confidential or privacy-protected records is protected from unauthorized disclosure.
6. Comply with any documented Retention notice issued by the Office of University Counsel.

C. University Department, Local Academic Unit, School and/or College, or Office (to be referred to as “Department”) must:

1. Appoint one or more departmental Records Coordinators to liaison with the University Records Officer regarding departmental records. Coordinators are responsible for supporting University Records Management in the development and implementation of the records management program within their department. Records Coordinators must complete training as required by University Records Management.
2. Ensure that employees understand their responsibilities and comply with the appropriate management of the department’s University Records.
3. Consult University Records Management about and be responsible for the maintenance, Retention, and proper disposal of University Records in their possession.
4. Determine whether to transfer Inactive paper records to University Records Management or to retain inactive University Records internally.
5. Ensure University Records created in digital format are maintained in digital format. Digital storage options must be approved by Information Technology Services and University Records Management, especially in cases of information containing identifiable information.
6. Prior to contacting the Office of University Records Management to request disposal of University Records, verify that there is no audit, investigation, or legal action pending or anticipated on the department’s University Records that are eligible for disposal and confirm that the records have not otherwise been reactivated.
7. Be aware of any records Retention requirements agreed to outside of the requirements set forth by the Virginia Public Records Act and report those requirements to University Records Management. These agreements include but are not limited to Retention periods, policies, or procedures outlined in agreements with accreditation institutions, athletic agencies, grant and research organizations, etc.

D. University Records Destruction

1. University Records cannot be destroyed without the authorization of the University Records Officer.
2. University Records with Identifying Information must be disposed of within six months of the expiration of the records period, unless under audit, investigation, or litigation.
3. Paper records containing confidential or Identifying Information must be destroyed using a confidential method such as pulping, confidential shredding, or burning.
4. Electronic University Records must be “scrubbed” clean or the storage media physically destroyed. “Deletion” of electronic records in computer files or other electronic storage media is neither acceptable nor effective.

E. Permanent and Essential Records

1. Records designated with Permanent or archival value, as listed in the Library of Virginia Records Retention and Disposition Schedules, or determined to be so by the University Archivists, may be transferred to the University Archives in the Special Collections Research Center. Departments must consult with the University Archivist for final approval.
2. Although Essential Records are subject to records management regulations, they are ineligible for transfer to the George Mason University Records Center until they have become Inactive Records.

III. Definitions

Essential Records: means records necessary to conduct business or to reconstitute an agency, organization, office, or unit (during or after an emergency), or to preserve the rights of the state or its citizens. Essential Records are part of an agency’s records disaster prevention and recovery program.

Inactive Records: means University Records that are not used with sufficient frequency to justify keeping them in the office of creation.

Permanent Records: means University Records of enduring historical or vital value or as evidence of the roles and responsibilities of the creator, not to be sent to temporary storage.

Public Record: has the same meaning as defined in the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, Virginia Code §2.2-3701, as amended: “all writings and recordings that consist of letters, words or numbers, or their equivalent, set down by handwriting, typewriting, printing, photostatting, photography, magnetic impulse, optical or magneto-optical form, mechanical or electronic recording or other form of data compilation, however stored, and regardless of physical form or characteristics, prepared or owned by, or in the possession of a public body or its officers, employees or agents in the transaction of public business.”

Records Coordinators: means individuals who serve as a liaison between University Records Management and their respective department.

Records Disposition: means final destruction or transfer of records to the proper archival repository.

Records Management:  means the systematic control of records throughout their life cycle to ensure efficiency, economy and security in their creation, use, handling, control, maintenance, and disposition.  It also is a process of managing data and other information in a secure format that allows for its timely access.

Records Schedule: means a listing of records series, approved by the Library of Virginia, that provides management instructions throughout the information lifecycle for University records.

Retention: means the length of time records should be kept in a certain location for administrative, legal, fiscal, historical or other purposes.

University Record: means those Public Records the University has the responsibility to maintain under the Virginia Records Act, §42.1-76 et seq.

Identifying Information means:

1. Social security numbers;
2. Driver’s license numbers;
3. Bank account numbers;
4. Credit or debit card numbers;
5. Personal identification numbers (PIN);
6. Electronic identification codes
7. Automated or electronic signatures or passwords;
8. Any other numbers or information that can be used to access a person’s financial resources, obtain identification, act as identification, or obtain goods or services.

Additional definitions are available at the GMU Records Management website.

IV. Dates:

A. Effective Date:

This policy will become effective upon the date of approval by the Executive Vice President for Administration and Finance and the Provost and Executive Vice President.

B. Date of Most Recent Review:

 January 16, 2025

V. Timetable for Review

This policy, and any related procedures, shall be reviewed every three years or more frequently as needed.

VI. Signatures

Approved:

__/S_____________________
Kenneth D. Walsh
Chief of Staff and Executive Vice President for Strategic Initiatives

__/S____________________
James Antony
Provost and Executive Vice President

 

Date approved: September 20, 2002
Revision Approved: April 12, 2011
Revision Approved: February 5, 2019
Revision approved: April 8, 2025

Page last updated: May 17, 2025