What is a retention schedule?

Records retention schedules list types of records typically held by state agency offices, and specify how long records must be retained in accordance with state law. These schedules are maintained by the Library of Virginia and are known as General Schedules (GS). They are divided into broad categories including administrative records, college and university records, fiscal records, personnel records, and others.

• Here is the complete list of retention schedules for use by state employees.

Schedules most frequently used by VMI offices are:

• GS-101 Administrative records  (includes correspondence, subject files, and most routine office records)
• GS-102 Fiscal Records (including purchasing)
• GS-111 College and University Records (records relating specifically to higher education)

The Library of Virginia also maintains a searchable database which may help you identify the correct retention schedule to use.