Official Records Retention Schedules
Please note: The official University of Iowa Records Retention schedules are currently under revision. Updates will be posted periodically. The official UI Health Care Records Retention Schedule is available separately to assist UI Health Care departments.
These retention schedules are designed to assist University departments in preserving Official Records appropriately while providing economy and efficiency in the creation, organization, maintenance, use, and disposition of records.
Search Criteria
Administrative Unit: represents either the administrative unit responsible for establishing the Official Record retention criteria OR the Administrative Unit responsible for maintaining the Official Records identified.
Confidential: indicates Official Records that contain information of various sorts that the University receives and holds confidential unless otherwise ordered by a court, by the lawful custodian of the records or by another person duly authorized to release such information. Examples include: student records, medical records, personnel records, etc.
Vital: indicates Official Records that contain information considered essential for the operations of a department (and/or the University) and includes information that may prevent a department from incurring serious liability or risk, or that would be extremely costly to replace. In the event of a disaster, this information, if destroyed, would make it difficult for a department to conduct normal business activities.
Export the full list of Official Record Retention Schedules available to date – or use the search criteria below for a more targeted search.
Promissory Notes & Institutional Loan Documents
Category: University Billing and Student Loans
Description:
Original Student Loan Promissory Notes & Institutional Loan Documents
Official Files Maintained by:
Treasury Operations
UI Retention Guidelines: 5 Years after loan is "de-obligated" (either paid, death, bankruptcy, etc.)
Confidential: Yes
Vital: Yes
Promotion and Tenure Records
Category: Academic and Faculty
Description:
Dossiers and supplemental materials of faculty members being reviewed for promotion or tenure.
Official Files Maintained by:
Local Department responsible for creating or overseeing the record
UI Retention Guidelines: CY + 10 years after employee terminates
Confidential: Yes
Vital: No
Promotion and Tenure Records: Grievance Decision Records
Category: Academic and Faculty
Description:
Dossiers, grievance documents, and final decisions of promotion and tenure cases that are disputed by faculty member.
Official Files Maintained by:
Office of the Executive VP and Provost
UI Retention Guidelines: CY + 10 years after employee terminates
Confidential: Yes
Vital: No
Proof of delivery/receipt of product or services
Category: Purchasing, Accounts Payable and Travel
Description:
Typically includes packing slips - signed and dated, time records, job sheets or the entry of an electronic receipt into PeopleSoft. Electronic receipts are maintained by UI Purchasing, Accounts Payable and Travel.
Official Files Maintained by:
Local Department responsible for creating or overseeing the record
UI Retention Guidelines: 5 Years
Confidential: Yes
Vital: Yes
Property Claims
Category: Risk Management, Insurance and Loss Prevention
Description:
Records of claims for damage to University property covered through commercial insurance and/or self-insurance. Some records may be kept permanently for claims of historical significance.
Official Files Maintained by:
UI Risk Management
UI Retention Guidelines: 10 Years
Confidential: Yes
Vital: Yes
Property insurance policies
Category: Risk Management, Insurance and Loss Prevention
Description:
Property Insurance files including policy documents, applications, renewals, correspondence, property valuations, etc.
Official Files Maintained by:
UI Risk Management
UI Retention Guidelines: 10 Years
Confidential: Yes
Vital: Yes
Purchase Order Invoices/Vouchers
Category: Purchasing, Accounts Payable and Travel
Description:
Vendors invoice is either sent to us electronically via Vendor Trak, GHX or email. Paper invoices are mailed to AP and once entered they are scanned. The scanned image is attached to the transaction.
Official Files Maintained by:
UI Purchasing, Accounts Payable and Travel
UI Retention Guidelines: 5 Years
Confidential: Yes
Vital: Yes
Purchase Orders
Category: Purchasing, Accounts Payable and Travel
Description:
Purchase orders are maintained in PeopleSoft Purchasing Module. Purchase order back up documentation is kept with the requisition that generated the order. See Preqs for further information.
Official Files Maintained by:
UI Purchasing, Accounts Payable and Travel
UI Retention Guidelines: 5 Years following end of purchase order
Confidential: Yes
Vital: Yes
Quarterly Balance Sheet Reconciliations
Category: Accounting and Financial
Description:
Documentation of quarterly balance sheet reconciliations performed at the department/unit level per policy at http://afr.fo.uiowa.edu/policies-procedures-resources/quarterly-reconcil....
Official Files Maintained by:
Local Department responsible for creating or overseeing the record
UI Retention Guidelines: 10 Years
Confidential: Yes
Vital: Yes
Radiation Shipping Records
Category: Environmental Health & Safety
Description:
Records of radioactive material packages shipped from UI
Official Files Maintained by:
UI Retention Guidelines: 5 Years
Confidential: No
Vital: Yes
Radioactive Materials (RAM) License Inspections
Category: Environmental Health & Safety
Description:
Records of RAM License Inspections
Official Files Maintained by:
UI Retention Guidelines: 5 Years
Confidential: No
Vital: Yes
Radioactive Materials Licenses
Category: Environmental Health & Safety
Description:
All licenses for the use of radioactive materials at UI and UIHC
Official Files Maintained by:
UI Retention Guidelines: Until Iowa Department of Public Health Termination of Radioactive Materials License
Confidential: Yes
Vital: Yes
Radioactive Materials Package Records
Category: Environmental Health & Safety
Description:
Records of radioactive materials packages received
Official Files Maintained by:
UI Retention Guidelines: 5 Years
Confidential: No
Vital: Yes
Real Estate Agreements
Category: Contracts, Real Estate and Leasing
Description:
Misc. documents with city governments; state agencies; and various non-profit partners.
Official Files Maintained by:
UI Business Manager Office
UI Retention Guidelines: 10 Years from termination
Confidential: Yes
Vital: Yes
Recombinant DNA (rDNA) Documents/Approvals
Category: Environmental Health & Safety
Description:
rDNA Approvals and associated documents voted on/approved by the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC).
Official Files Maintained by:
UI Retention Guidelines: Permanent
Confidential: No
Vital: Yes
Reconciliations of Cash & Change Fund Verifications
Category: Accounting and Financial
Description:
Reconciliation of cash (including validation of deposit tickets), and verification of departmental change funds.
Official Files Maintained by:
Local Department responsible for creating or overseeing the record
UI Retention Guidelines: 5 Years
Confidential: Yes
Vital: Yes
Reconciliations of Transaction Detail Reports (TDR's)
Category: Accounting and Financial
Description:
Transaction Detail Reports (TDR's) maintained electronically by central administration.
Official Files Maintained by:
UI Accounting & Financial Reporting
UI Retention Guidelines: 10 Years
Confidential: Yes
Vital: Yes
Recordable Medical Events
Category: Environmental Health & Safety
Description:
Records of medical events related to radioactive materials that are required by IDPH to be recorded
Official Files Maintained by:
UI Retention Guidelines: 5 Years
Confidential: Yes
Vital: Yes
Recruitment Records
Category: Personnel, Human Resources and Recruitment
Description:
Recruitment records include position postings/requisitions, resumes, CVs, job applications, reference letters, letters of recommendation, and all recruitment/search documents (e.g., writing samples, portfolios) for applicants to positions within a department for all position types (merit, student, faculty, and P&S).
Official Files Maintained by:
Local Department responsible for creating or overseeing the record
UI Retention Guidelines: 5 Years following the closure of a search or the appointment of the employee.
Confidential: Yes
Vital: Yes
Release Records of individuals involved in radiopharmaceuticals or Implant therapies
Category: Environmental Health & Safety
Description:
Release records of radioactive materials (RAM) therapy patients sent from departments to EHS.
Official Files Maintained by:
UI Retention Guidelines: 5 Years
Confidential: Yes
Vital: Yes