All Washington State University personnel have a legal and ethical obligation to comply with the state Public Records Act (RCW 42.56). The Public Records Act plays a crucial role in promoting transparency and accountability in government decision-making by making records accessible to the public, with limited exceptions.
University employees who receive a public records request should promptly refer the requester to the Public Records Office website, which has information for requesters as well as access to the online public records portal where they can make the request. The university has a limited amount of time to respond to a request.
Upon receiving a request, the Public Records Office contacts university personnel and units that may have responsive records. University employees are required to respond promptly, follow the instructions in the email, and provide all records within the scope of the request that they maintain or have access to. The Public Records Office withholds or redacts records in accordance with the law and in consultation with the Attorney General’s Office. Individual employees should not withhold or redact records, as exemptions are strictly limited by statute, and all redactions must be recorded in a redaction log.
Please take the time to review WSU’s public records rules, as well as the FAQs on the Public Records Office website.
For questions, concerns, or feedback, please contact wsu.pubrecords@wsu.edu. |
