Muckraking at the UW

You can get a Request for Public Records form from the Public Records office, which is located in the Visitors' Information Center at 4014 Univ. Way. The form is very simple to fill out--just explain what document you want and sign on the dotted line. We also have the form available in two formats:

pr.jpg--JPEG format; most graphics programs can read
pr.pdf--PDF format; requires Adobe Acrobat Reader, which you can download for free.
(Note: the pdf version is a lot larger, but it printed out clearer in the UWired lab.)

Alternatively, you can just write a letter with your name and address and a description of the specific document you want, and send it to the Public Records Officer.

If the record you want is indeed public, the Public Records Officer will obtain the document(s) for you. The Officer will either make a viewing appointment, or make copies of the document(s) at your request; be prepared to pay a lot for copies.

For more information, consult the infosheet below, provided by the Public Records Office.

University of Washington
Public Records Office
4014 University Way N.E.
Seattle, Washington 98105-6203
(206) 543-9180
FAX: (206) 543-0786

1. The Public Records Officer, whose office is located at the University of Washington Visitors Information Center, has been delegated the responsibility for responding to requests for the University's records under the State Public Records Law. For a full description of the applicable procedures see Washington Administrative Code 478-276, "Rules and Regulations for the University of Washington Governing Access to Public Records" available at the UW Public Records Office and all Reference Stations on campus.

2. Requests must be written and will be received by mail, facsimile or may be delivered to the Public Records Office.

3. Requests must be for "identifiable public records". Requesters should be specific in providing the title(s) of the document, providing appropriate dates and any other specific information that will assist the Public Records Office in locating the requested documents.

4. Requesters will receive an acknowledgment of their request within five business days of receipt of a public records request. If the acknowledgment is not accompanied by the records the Public Records Office will provide in the acknowledgment an estimate of when the records will be made available. Additional time should be allowed for the Public Records Office to respond to extensive requests.

5. Once the documents have been received from the record-holding department the Public Records Officer will evaluate them in light of the law's provisions and then notify the requester when they may be reviewed; or when payment may be made for copying and pickup.

6. If the requester wants copies, arrangements will be made exclusively by the Public Records Office. The requester is charged for copies at the rate allowable by law and payment is due prior to release of requested documents.

7. If the requester wants to review records prior to copying, a 90-minute maximum viewing appointment will be made for one individual at a time only; in light of Public Records Office space limitations. Expansive requests (or discovery-type requests) will be managed by the Public Records Officer in a manner such as to not preclude administration of other requests being handled by this office at the same time. Document viewing will take place in the Public Records Office only, unless special viewing equipment is necessary. Special viewing arrangements will be made solely by the staff of the Public Records Office. (RCW 42.17.290)

8. Multiple and extensive requests from individual requesters will be processed in queuing order relative to both other requesters and the individual requester. (RCW 42.17.290)

9. If any records are refused or information deleted from them, the Public Records Officer will write the requester stating which records have been withheld or indicating what information was deleted, citing the applicable exemption under the law.

10. Decisions to exempt records from review and/or copying may be appealed by writing a letter to the Public Records Officer who then forwards the appeal to the Office of the President for review. The appeal must refer to the Public Records Officer's written statement denying access to the record. Final decisions on denial of the records will then be made in writing from the Office of the President.

11. Subpoenas for documents are actions separate from public disclosure requests and are not handled by the Public Records office. Subpoenaed documents are not subject to public disclosure review. Subpoenas for documents should be directed to the record holding department. (Operations Manual D57.9 p.2)

June 1997

As required by RCW 42.17.260(2)
RCW 42.17
RCW 42.48
RCW 4.24.250
RCW 70.41.200
20 U.S.C. 1232g (a) (4) (A) FERPA
05 U.S.C. 552 FOIA