According to North Carolina General statutes 121 and 12, every document, paper, letter, map, book, photograph, film, sound recording, magnetic or other tape, electronic data processing record, artifact, or other documentary material, regardless of physical form or characteristic made or received in connection with the transaction of public business by any state, county, municipal agency or other political subdivision of government is considered a public record and may not be disposed of, erased or destroyed without specific guidance from the Department of Cultural Resources.  The Department of Cultural Resources recognizes that many records exist that may have very short-term value to the creating agency.  These guidelines are intended to authorize the expeditious disposal of records possessing only brief administrative, fiscal, legal, research, or reference value, in order to enhance the efficient management of public records.

A General schedule that specifically addresses academic documents is available in electronic format:  http://www.ah.dcr.state.nc.us/records/schedules/unc_system_general_schedule.pdf

The General Schedule addresses records commonly found in departments throughout the  university, provides uniform description and disposition instructions, and indicates minimum retention periods.  Every schedule provides a brief description of each records group (following the item identification number) and instruction for their authorized disposition (following the words “Disposition Instructions”). There is an indication of office(s) of record for each records group.  These offices should consult their individual schedule to see if there are different disposition requirements.

UNCSA Records Retention and Disposition Schedule
Executive Order #18

The Chief Academic Office hereby authorizes the use of the State University Schedule by all campus offices.