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Exams, Course Assignments, and Grades  

Function

Teaching and Academic Programs

PIB

RRSDA Number

1995-018

Department

All University Departments

Description, purpose and use of records

The series consists of exams and assignments submitted by students in accordance with course 
requirements, which are graded and retained by the instructor. Note that completed course work may be returned to the student by the course instructor at their discretion. 

Records may include exams, tests, projects, term papers, essays, laboratory work papers, artistic projects, assignments, and/or any other items that are created for the purposes of evaluating and/or grading students. Records also include course grades, including but not limited to, lists of grades maintained by instructors and departments prior to input into Go SFU (SFU’s Student Information Management System). 

This schedule does not apply to the official student records stored in Go SFU.

Retention periods

Records Active   Semi-Active
Total retention Final disposition
No grade/course appeal initiated Semester grade applied + 1 year Nil Semester grade applied + 1 year Destruction
Grade/course appeal initiated Grade/Course appeal resolved + 1 year Nil Grade/Course appeal resolved + 1 year Destruction
         

Authorities

These records are created, used, retained and managed in accordance with the following authorities:

  • Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (RSBC 1996, c. 165)
  • Grading and the Reconsideration of Grades (T20.01)
  • Retention and disposal of student exams or assignments (I10.09)

 

Retention rationale

The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) requires that personal information used to make a decision that directly affects an individual must be retained for a minimum of one year. In addition, SFU Policy T20.01 requires retention of grade-related records for one year following course completion. 

While students must normally request a review of grades within 60 days of receiving a grade, the grade appeal timeframe can vary. Therefore, a total retention period of “semester grade applied + 1 year” in cases where no grade/course appeal is initiated is sufficient to meet the administrative need for these records. However, where a grade/course appeal is initiated, a total retention period of “grade/course appeal resolved + 1 year” is required. Upon expiry of the total retention period, these records cease to have administrative 
value and should be securely destroyed. 

Related RRSDAs

Status

RRSDA is in force

Approval Date

24 November 1995

Last Revised Date

16 September 2026