The Archives is managed according to standards commonly employed in the archives and management field. Additionally, the archives operates with direction from the Andrews University Archives and Records Center Committee which has both policy-making and advisory jurisdiction. Questions concerning records management at Andrews University should be directed to the University Archivist.

Administratively, the Andrews University Archives and Records Center has two parts. One is the Records Center and the other is the Archives. Both are in the same location but manages differently. The Archivist and his staff administers both parts.

The Records Center area receives and holds large volume of records from all the various entities/units of the University. The records that comprise the Archives are arranged in record groups corresponding to the administrative organization of the University (see Appendix XV), and are held for varying lengths of time as determined by established record retention schedules. These retention schedules are established in consultation with the archivists, the various University entities/offices of origin, and the Archives and Records Center Committee. For an example see Appendix X.

At the time specified in the record retention schedule, the records are either destroyed, stored in the Record Center area permanently, transferred to the Archives area, or transferred to the Adventist Heritage Center. All records in the Records Center area are closed for research purposes without special arrangement with the office of origin and the archivist.

The Archives area permanently holds records of Andrews University which have enduring legal, historical or cultural value. All records in the Archives area are open for research purposes.

A third partner in this arrangement is the Adventist Heritage Center (AHC). The AHC holds and makes available for research University publications and the personal papers of faculty and staff.

The Archives holds correspondence and topical files for several EMC and AU presidents as well as records of academic vice presidents, deans, library directors, the public relations office, and others. Other records include enrollment, financial and statistical reports, the Working Policy, and some accreditation reports. The AHC holds a complete set of the following publications: Bulletin, Student Movement, Cardinal, and Cast. There are thousands of photographs from Battle Creek College days to the more recent years.