In order to protect the University and individuals, most administrative, financial, research, student, and personnel records that need disposal should be destroyed in a confidential manner.
This is particularly important for records containing personal information such as birth dates, social security numbers, bank account numbers or other financial information, student grades, personnel, or search committee files.
Destroying records in a confidential manner should be the rule, not the exception.
Documents that have a wide distribution at the time of their creation, like publications, can be disposed of in the general trash or recycling.
Many departments and offices use a vendor document shredding service to confidentially destroy their records. For many departments and offices employing a vendor service is easier and more cost effective than purchasing and maintaining an office shredder.
Paper shredders may be a reasonable option for departments and offices that generate a small volume of paper records. Departments and offices should use a cross shredder that cuts paper into tiny squares rather than strip shredders that cut paper into strips.
The Records Management Program is happy to work with departments and offices to help them find an appropriate confidential records destruction solution.
