Digital Spring Cleaning: Secure Your Files

Lewis & Clark’s Data Governance Committee is kicking off Digital Spring Cleaning—a phrase that’s usually met with dread, but not when it’s for a good cause! In this case, your spring cleaning will help protect the institution’s (and your) data.

Maybe you have a class roster with student IDs and emails on it from 2008. Maybe it’s a list of addresses for your colleagues, or an invoice with a bank routing number. Don’t get overwhelmed by the potential volume of work to be done—take it in small amounts, one folder at a time, dedicating time each day over the next few weeks. 

Instructions:

Use the L&C Records Retention Policy and Records Retention Schedule to help identify the types of files to delete and the appropriate timeframe for keeping them. Not all departments are listed in the records retention schedule, but the list will give you a sense of the types of documents and data to look for.

Where to look for files:

• Google Drive
• LC Files (sometimes referred to as the J or H drive)
• Desktop
• Local drive (aka C drive)
• Anywhere else you store your files!

If you have questions or concerns, please reach out to the LC Data Governance co-chairs, Ann Harris and Renee Orlick at idsc@lclark.edu.