Policy 6300 — Archives Policies

Policy section:

Section 6300-6399 Records

Policy number:

6300

Subject:

Archives Policies

Group:

Institutional

Approved By:

Executive Committee of the Board of Regents

Approved date:

November 5, 1984

Effective date:

November 5, 1984

Administered by:

University Librarian

1 — Goals and Objectives for the University Archives

(a) to appraise, collect, organize, describe, make available and preserve records/manuscripts of historical, legal, fiscal and/or administrative value to ��ú University and the broader community it serves.

(b) to provide adequate facilities for the retention and preservation of such records.

(c) to provide archival reference services that will assist the operation of ��ú University.

(d) to promote knowledge and understanding of the origins, aims, programs and goals of ��ú University.

(e) to serve research and scholarship by making available and encouraging the use of its collections by members of the University and the community at large.

(f) to foster a program of efficient records management.

2 — University Records — Definition and Disposition

(a) University Records consist of those documents generated by administrative officers and by their staffs in the performance of their duties as university officials or employees, and, as such, are the property of the University.

(b) In order to fulfill the goals and objectives of the University Archives the head of each department, budgetary unit or office shall cause to be made and preserved records containing adequate and proper documentation of (a) the organization, (b) functions, (c) policies, (d) decisions, (e) procedures and all essential transactions of the respective department, budgetary unit or office.

(c) The University Archives is designated as the official depository for University records.

(d) These records shall not be destroyed without the joint approval of the Departmental Head and the University Archivist. Such property shall be transferred to the University Archives when the Departmental Head and the Archivist deem it appropriate.

(i) All university records deposited in the Archives are considered inactive and as such are available for reference and research.
(ii) Access rights consistent with the legal rights of all concerned shall be applied. Records may be designated "restricted" or *confidential" by the joint decision of the University Archivist and either the office of origin or the author of the record. Such restrictions must be recorded in writing on the transfer of the material to the Archives and shall be for a fixed term.
(iii) Persons requiring access to restricted material may make application to the University Archivist and their request will be considered by the University Archivist and either the current administrator of the office concerned or the author of the record.

(e) Examples of "archival materials" (under (a) above) will include, but not be limited to, inactive items from the following:

(i) Minutes, memoranda, correspondence and reports of the Board of Regents and its committees.
(ii) Records of the Office of the President including correspondence, administrative subject files, and reports.
(iii) Correspondence, subject files and reports of all administrative officers, including Vice-Presidents, Deans of Faculties, Directors of Schools and Programs, Chairpersons / Heads of Departments.
(iv) Correspondence, subject files, and reports of the chief officer of units of the University operating with a high degree of independence such as the Owens Art Gallery, Motyer-Fancy Theatre and all Research Institute and Centres.
(v) Minutes, memoranda and reports of all major academic and administrative committees, including Senate and its committees.
(vi) Annual budget and audit reports.
(vii) Departmental records including minutes, reports, syllabi and a sampling of tests and examinations.
(viii) Personnel records of former faculty and other employees.
(ix) Records of the Registrar including non-current student transcripts, enrolment reports, graduation lists and all other reports issued on a regular basis.
(x) Reports and records of the following: Alumni Office, Admissions Office, Research Administration Office, Library and Archives, Chapel and the Chaplaincy.
(xi) All publications generated at the University or distributed in its name including: general reports, newsletters, books, monographs, booklets, calendars, special bulletins, yearbooks, student newspapers, directories, faculty/staff lists, alumni magazines and ephemeral materials produced by the University such as brochures, posters, etc.
(xii) Publications about ��ú University produced externally.
(xiii) Theses and selected student research reports.
(xiv) Audio-visual materials produced by and/or about the University to document its development such as: photographs and negatives, films, oral history interviews, audio and video tapes.
(xv) Machine readable records.
(xvi) Security copies of microfilm produced by any University vital records program.
(xvii) Artifacts deemed to complement and enhance the archival collection such as: medals, ceremonial items, plaques, etc.

3 — Manuscript Collection — Definition and Disposition

(a) The Manuscript collection is defined as the "private archives" or unpublished records of individuals or groups other than those of ��ú University (whose archives are now defined under "University Records").

(b) In order to build and maintain a manuscript collection which will be of continuing research value the collection policy will be based on the following:

(i) The goals and objectives of the University Archives.
(ii) The strengths of the existing collection and the supporting collections of secondary works (i.e. Bell, Mary Mellish Archibald, etc.).
(iii) The types and levels of research supported by the collections (i.e. Maritime and Canadian Studies).
(iv) The clientele served by the collection (i.e. faculty, undergraduates, members of the local community, visiting researchers, other archives and museums.)
(v) The collection policies of other archives in order that competition be avoided and research and scholarship served through co-operation and the sharing of information.
(vi) Resources available to support bibliographic as well as physical access to the collection (i.e. funding for space, equipment, supplies, staff, cataloguing, indexing, etc.

(i) Records of individuals, associations, and organizations closely affiliated with ��ú University. For example:
- Individuals — Faculty, staff, alumni
- Associations — ��ú Faculty Association, ��ú Federated Alumni Inc., Student Administrative Council
- Organizations — Crake Institute
(ii)Records Relating to Regional Studies
- In order to promote scholarly research, archival materials related to the historical and cultural development of the Maritime Provinces should be collected. The focus of the collection should centre on the Chignecto Region, Westmorland County, and Tantramar Marshes.

(d) Examples of "archival materials" (under c. (i).and (ii) above) will include but not be limited to the following:

(i) Correspondence, diaries, minutes, journals, ledgers, research notes, deeds, maps, plans, and scrapbooks.
(ii) Sound recordings, oral histories, films, videotapes, photographs, posters, postcards, broadsheets, ephemera, etc.

(e) Manuscript materials may be accepted under such terms as agreed upon by the donor and the University Archivist as set forth in a Deed of Gift.

(f) Collection policies should be reviewed on a regular basis and materials deemed inappropriate to the Collection may be disposed of by the Archivist in accordance with established procedures and the Deed of Gift.

Security and Classification of ��ú Electronic Information Procedure

1. Introduction

��ú Electronic Information used by Users, has varying degrees of sensitivity which have corresponding levels of risk and protection requirements; therefore, it is necessary to classify this information to ensure it is given the appropriate level of care and custody.

This explains how ��ú Electronic Information is classified using ��ú’s three-level Information Security Classification Model.

This has been issued under the authority of the Use and Security of ��ú Electronic Information and Systems Policy. Questions may be referred to helpdesk@mta.ca

2. Information Security Classification Model

��ú Electronic Information is classified as follows:

3. Responsibility for Classifying and Caring for Information

The Data Steward/Owner is responsible for determining the information security classification based on the definitions and examples in the table above. Based on other relevant factors, information may be classified at a higher level than indicated above, but not at a lower level.

The Vice President’s, Deans and Directors are responsible for knowing the types of ��ú Electronic Information under their control, its information security classification and where it is stored. This responsibility may be delegated to the Information Steward/Owner.

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