Morning Sian,
I’m not sure I can really help as I don’t have any proper answers to your questions, but I can tell you that I’ve been having these same conversations with our IT department around storage space. They have very similar concerns, especially around multimedia courses where assessments could be in any format (and any size).
The change definitely happened with the new Jisc schedule which came out last year – I know this because when I noticed it I also spoke with our Student facing teams about it. They didn’t have any particular concerns about the increase as they thought it may well be in the students favour to have assessments for longer.
With this in mind, we have made this change (although I’m aware our published retention schedule doesn’t reflect it – the webpage does specify that the schedule is under review!). Fortunately the IT team accepted that storage space isn’t a good enough reason to argue against it.
I think you make a really good point about feedback and assessments having differing retention periods though, and would definitely be interested in hearing what the rationale for this is, as well as how others have approached this.
Thanks,
Nicki
Nicki Hargreaves | Information Records Manager
Legal Services | Manchester Metropolitan University
I am currently working from home – please contact me via email
-----Original Message-----
From: The Information and Records Management Society mailing list <[log in to unmask]> On Behalf Of Sian Astill
Sent: 27 October 2020 11:40
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Retention of HE assessments - Jisc change?
Hello all
For those working in Higher Education, if anyone can help: I am reviewing our Retention Schedule and have noticed that the Jisc recommendation for submitted/completed assessments has increased considerably from 'confirmation of marks/grades by Board of Examiners' to 'Current academic year + 6 years', citing the Limitations Act.
If we make this change, admin staff in Schools have raised a concern about the storage space required or the workload required if they scan/photograph assessments rather than retain the physical piece. I think that's a very fair point, so I am trying to be absolutely certain that it is necessary to increase the period. I have a few queries if anyone can answer, please:
1. Jisc cites Limitations for both the assessed work and the feedback, yet the recommended period is 'current academic year + 6 years' for one and 'completion of programme + 6 years' for the other – does anyone have any idea why this would be different?
2. In a brief survey of other HEI retention schedules, I didn't find any following the longer period now recommended by Jisc. Is anybody keeping their assessments for either current or completion + 6?
3. Does anyone have a view on the practicalities of retaining feedback and assessments for different lengths of time (ie holding assessments briefly but feedback much longer)? Regardless of the Jisc change, someone had already requested that we increase our own retention period for assessed work to bring it in line with the retention period for feedback on academic progress ('completion + 6 years', based on Jisc). I am told that feedback is often made directly onto assessments, including electronic, so they are inseparable, plus that the assessment would be required to give the feedback context.
4. I have been asked what claims a student might possibly bring against the University where their assessed work would be required as evidence - does anyone have answer to that?
This seems like it must have been a change that happened when Jisc published their new schedule last year. I'm not sure whether it's a change that has slipped under the radar a bit or if it's a change that many people have decided it isn't appropriate to follow?
Thank you
Sian
Sian Astill
Assistant Records Manager and Archivist
University of Huddersfield
To view the list archives go to: https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?A0=RECORDS-MANAGEMENT-UK
To unsubscribe from this list, send an email to [log in to unmask] with the words UNSUBSCRIBE RECORDS-MANAGEMENT-UK
For any technical queries re JISC please email [log in to unmask] For any content based queries, please email [log in to unmask]
"Before acting on this email or opening any attachments you should read the Manchester Metropolitan University email disclaimer available on its website http://www.mmu.ac.uk/emaildisclaimer "
To view the list archives go to: https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?A0=RECORDS-MANAGEMENT-UK
To unsubscribe from this list, send an email to [log in to unmask] with the words UNSUBSCRIBE RECORDS-MANAGEMENT-UK
For any technical queries re JISC please email [log in to unmask]
For any content based queries, please email [log in to unmask]
|