You may have heard that there is an official University Filing Plan. That's not the case. In the mid 1980s, the Archives Department ran a pilot classification project. Several departments adopted a version of the plan, but it never received official sanction. It was decided that departments needed to have the flexibility to design a file classification plan to suit their individual needs.
Classification means grouping related files under inclusive headings.
Administrative files contain records that are common to every organization or department. Operational files are specific to the mandate of your department. To determine these headings ask yourself what are the main functions, subjects, or program areas of your office. Set up primary, secondary, and tertiary file titles depending on the complexity of the subjects. Create fewer rather than more headings.