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Transcript Request Records

Function

Student Services and Records

PIB

RRSDA Number

2005-005

Department

Student Services

Description, purpose and use of records

Records made and received by Student Services and the Office of the Dean of Graduate Studies in the processing of student transcript requests.  Requests take one of three forms: official transcript requests, advising transcript requests, and unofficial transcript requests. Official transcripts are usually generated for use by other institutions or agencies in confirming academic credentials. Advising transcripts are used by students and student advisors in the reviewing and the planning of the former's academic progress. Unofficial transcripts are are used by students as an informal, snapshot record of their academic progress.  

Records include electronic request data submitted by students through SFU's online student services portal and electronic copies of all transcripts generated by SIMS (Student Information Management System). Records also include paper request forms completed by non-current students who do not have access to SFU's online student services portal.  Records do not include the actual paper transcripts that result from the request. 

Retention periods

Records Active Retention
Semi-Active Retention   Total retention Final disposition
Official Transcript Request Records CY 1 year CY + 1 year Destroy
Advising Transcript Request Records 1 month Nil 1 month Destroy
Unofficial Transcript Request Records 1 month Nil 1 month Destroy
         

Active = Active Retention Period, Keep in Office; Semi-Active = Semi-Active Retention period, transfer to University Records Centre; CY = Current calendar year; CFY = Current fiscal year; CS = Current semester; S/O = Superseded or obsolete; OPR = Office of Primary Responsibility; Non-OPR = All other departments

Retention rationale

The total retention period for official transcript request records allows for sufficient time to verify that a request was received and a transcript generated and mailed to the institution or agency indicated in the request.  Advising and unofficial transcript request records are transitory and can be destroyed after a transcript has been generated. 

Retention and filing guidelines

These records contain personal information.  At the end of the total recommended retention periods (see above) systems staff will purge the electronic data covered by this RRSDA from SIMS.  Paper request forms should be destroyed by confidential shredding; contact Facilities Management to make arrangements.

Status

RRSDA is in force

Approval Date

9 Feb 2006

Last Revised Date