Supporting Information Governance through Records and Information Management

The expanding scope of IT initiatives in higher education institutions now goes well beyond basic desktop and enterprise applications. IT is often asked to focus on efforts to establish good information-governance practices. The many aspects of information governance are often found in a records and information management (RIM) program, but not all colleges and universities have such programs. This research bulletin explains how information governance is at the core of a RIM program and how IT interests in information governance can be better supported by having a RIM program. It describes how the University of Illinois embedded a RIM program in the Office of the CIO, keeping close ties to the campus archivists, and how this arrangement benefits both information governance and the academic mission of the institution. If a RIM program is positioned in the office of the CIO, the services of the program can also enhance ongoing IT information-governance efforts.