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ECU University Records Management: Home

Guidance on managing university records at ECU, including using the records schedule, digital records, sensitive records, and transferring records with historical value..

Managing Records at ECU

As ECU employees we all create records in our daily work. We all have a shared responsibility to manage the records appropriately as directed by state and federal regulations for public records. Academic Library Services through its Records Management program strives to empower all employees to confidently and efficiently manage records in accordance with the University of North Carolina General Records Retention and Disposition Schedule.

If you're trying to decide what to do with records — old or new — in your office, this guide is the place to start. This guide contains information and tips for ECU employees about records management requirements and procedures. 

If you would like to schedule a consultation, please email recordsmanagement@ecu.edu. We're happy to come to your office and provide customized advice on how to organize records and prepare records for disposition.  

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What is records management?

ISO standard 15489: 2016 defines Records Management as the field of management responsible for the efficient and systematic control of the creation, receipt, maintenance, use and disposition of records, including the processes for capturing and maintaining evidence of and information about business activities and transactions in the form of records. 

Using this Guide

This guide provides information on the following topics:

  • Getting Started - learn what records are, basic overview of key terminology, and strategies for beginning to manage records
  • Using the Records Schedule - learn about the General Records Retention and Disposition Schedule and how to use it
  • Digital records - learn what unique considerations are important when dealing with "born-digital" records 
  • Sensitive Records - learn about what information needs to be confidential and protected as you manage records
  • Transfer to Archives - learn when and how to send some permanent records to the University Archives
  • FAQ - this page provides a list of answers to commonly asked questions

About the Records Management Program

In 1980, the first steps were taken to develop a records management program for the University of North Carolina system. The North Carolina Division of Archives and History conducted surveys of the inventory of administrative units on each of the UNC campuses. In April 1982, ECU designated an interim archivist to begin centralizing administrative control of nearly 75 years of campus history.

Efforts initially centered on the salvage of university records stored in the basement of Fleming Dormitory. Students enrolled in the History Department’s Archival Administration course were pressed into service to assist with processing records into the Records Center and destroying material no longer needed. Records discovered across campus in closets, offices, and attics were also recovered. Much of this material formed the foundation of the rich institutional history contained in University Archives, demonstrating that a sense of campus pride and community existed through the preservation of historic documents long before a formal archives was in place. Records management was a function of the University Archives & Records Management department in Academic Library Services (ALS) until 2018. In February 2018, Records Management became part of the Administrative Services Division of ALS, and Amy Bright became University Records Manager.  As of January 2023, Records Management merged with University Archives to form the University History and Records department within ALS' Special Collections Division.

Contacting University History and Records

recordsmanagement@ecu.edu

Alston Cobourn

Head, University History and Records

cobourna18@ecu.edu

252-328-4090

 

Zach Dale

Archives and Records Assistant

dalez22@ecu.edu 

252-328-0289

Upcoming Records Management Trainings

Online training is available through Cornerstone.

Please contact recordsmanagement@ecu.edu to set up an individual training session or records consultation.

Acknowledgement

This guide is based on the Records Management at Chapel Hill guide. Thanks are extended to the UNC Archivist and Assistant University Archivist for Digital Records & Records Management for granting permission to reuse their guide.