Disposal of Confidential Records

Official records, convenience copies, or transitory information containing confidential information must be destroyed in a manner that preserves confidentiality throughout the entire disposition process. Confidential information should never be placed in the trash, in unlocked recycling bins, or in any other container that does not ensure adequate security of a record until it is permanently destroyed. 

Below is a list of items that could be considered to be personal and/or confidential information.  This list is not intended to be all inclusive and units should carefully consider the confidenitality of records during the disposal/destruction process to ensure that all sensitive information is disposed in the most secure manner possible. 

Examples of Items that Could Be Considered Personal/Confidential Information:

  • Social Security number
  • Grades (including test scores, assignments, projects and class grades)
  • Student accounting information, credit cards, bank account numbers, payment history, financial aid history, billing statements
  • Driver's License Number
  • Employee/Student ID
  • Birthday
  • Address/Telephone Information
  • Personal Email Address
  • Personal Vehicle Information
  • Personal Benefits/Insurance Information
  • Medical/Treatment Information
  • Family Information
  • Building Access Codes
  • Human subject information
  • Sensitive digital research data