OSU Navbar

OSU BFAP IT Need Assistance? Applications, Development and Support Desktop Support and Helpdesk Enterprise Systems Support Network and Server Support Services BFAP IT Policies, Forms and Processes Helpful Resources Contact Us BFAP IT System Status Call: 247-IT4U Email Us eRequest OSU Administrative Systems OCIO System Status VPN Exchange Webmail eTimesheet

E-Mail Archiving User Resources - FAQs


  • How does e-mail archiving work?
    E-mail is recorded in the archive when it is sent or received by Exchange. By default each e-mail item is assigned a three year expiration. Managed Folders are used to extend the expiration date based on the retention requirements of each e-mail item. When e-mail messages reach their established expiration date, they will be automatically removed from the archive.
  • What do I do if I need to keep an e-mail message longer?
    By moving the e-mail message to a Managed Folder you will extend the expiration date of the message. For more information please see Exchange and E-mail Archive Strategy
  • What happens if I don’t file my e-mail?
    If you don’t file your e-mail, it will be automatically removed from Exchange/Outlook after two years. E-mail will remain in the archive for an additional year before being permanently deleted.
  • Where is the best place to search for e-mail?
    The E-mail Archive is the best place to search for all e-mail messages since it contains both current and historical e-mail. See E-mail Archive Searching for more information.
  • How long do I have to file my e-mail?
    It depends on the sent/received date of the messages. You have two years from the sent/received date of a message to file it. For example, if you receive an e-mail today, you have two years from now to file the e-mail message before it is removed from Outlook.
  • What do I do if I don’t know where to put my e-mail?
    Talk to your area’s archiving contact. See E-mail Archiving Contacts for more information.
  • Can I get to my e-mail archive outside campus?
    At this time we do not support accessing your email archive outside campus area.
  • What happens to the e-mail I have deleted?
    When you delete an e-mail, it is moved to Deleted Items folder and automatically deleted from Outlook in seven days. The deleted e-mail will remain in the archive for one year.
  • Do I need to file my Calendar, Contacts, or Tasks?
    Calendar/Contacts/Tasks will stay in the archive until removed by the user.
  • Do I need to file my Sent Items?
    The retention policies apply to Sent Items as well, so you will need to file your Sent Items according to your area’s retention schedule.