Vital records are those records that document the legal and financial position of the University, its obligations to trustees, faculty, staff, alumni, and students, and are essential for the continuation or resumption of operations following a natural or man-made disaster or loss.

Departments with responsibility for housing and/or maintaining vital records of the University will have their vital records identified on their records retention schedule. Each vital record series will include a protection method statement.

Examples of vital records include student academic records, certain accounting records, Board of Trustee records, among others.

Vital records protection methods can include storage in the Vital Records Vault located in the University Archives or planned dispersal to remote off-campus locations.