FAQs and Contact
Following are responses to common questions about public records at UNC-Chapel Hill.
What is a public record?
A “public record” refers to any record created or received in conducting University business, in whatever format, including but not limited to paper, photographs, recordings, emails or digital images, unless an exception applies under federal or state law.
North Carolina law does not require the University to respond to a request for a public record by creating or compiling a record that does not exist.
How do I submit a public records request?
In most cases, visit the University’s online public records portal at https://nextrequest.unc.edu/.
For specific records such as student information, HR records, or public safety records:
About Student Information
Requests for student information should be submitted at https://nextrequest.unc.edu/. Users should tag their request with “Office of University Registrar” using the departments dropdown.
About Faculty and Staff
For employee information the University can provide under the State (North Carolina) Personnel Act, contact the Office of Human Resources:
Email:
About Police Records
For public University police records, contact the Department of Public Safety:
Email:
From the News Media
Media representatives may contact the Office of University Communications with media inquiries.
Public records requests should be submitted at https://nextrequest.unc.edu/. Records requests should not be submitted to University Communications.
Email:
All Other Requests
All other requests should be submitted to the University’s Public Records Office:
What is the University's policy on public records requests?
The University's policy on public records requests is at policies.unc.edu.
I’m an employee at UNC-Chapel Hill. How should I respond to a public records request?
UNC-Chapel Hill employees who receive a public records request from an individual should forward the request to the appropriate contact (see above) and respond to the requester with the appropriate contact information. University employees unsure of the appropriate office or contact should contact the Public Records Office.
Is the University permitted to withhold some records?
Two of the most common exceptions involve the University’s legal responsibility to protect the privacy rights of students, faculty and staff under federal and state law. Examples of protected information include a student’s academic work or personnel records about an employee’s work performance.
The principal laws covering these exceptions are the:
- Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, 920 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99)
- North Carolina Public Records Act, (N.C.G.S. Chapter 132)
- North Carolina Human Resources Act, (N.C.G.S. Chapter 126)
What information about an employee is considered public?
Under state law, the following information about an employee may be released:
- Name
- Age (not date of birth)
- Date of original employment or appointment
- Terms of any contract by which the employee is employed whether written or oral, past and current
- Current position
- Title
- Current salary
- Date and amount of each increase or decrease in salary
- Date and type of each promotion, demotion, transfer, suspension, separation, or other change in position classification at the University
- General description of the reasons for each promotion
- Date and type of each dismissal, suspension, or demotion for disciplinary reasons. If the disciplinary action was a dismissal, a copy of the written notice of the final decision of the head of the department setting forth the specific acts or omissions that are the basis of the dismissal
- Office to which the employee is currently assigned (work contact information is available on the University’s online directory)
Any additional information regarding employees not listed above is considered confidential under state law unless otherwise authorized by the State Human Resources Act. For additional context about personnel records and the confidentiality of personnel information, refer to https://hr.unc.edu/employees/policies/shra-policies/ee-relations/confidentiality/
How long will it take for the University to respond to a records request?
The University will respond as promptly as possible based on factors including the availability of records, the complexity of the request, the volume of materials involved, the number of requests ahead in the queue and the time required to review the materials for possible redaction to protect the privacy rights of students or employees or other information deemed confidential under federal or state law.
Under North Carolina law, the University must produce the public records “as promptly as possible.” What is considered “as promptly as possible” will vary depending on the volume of documents sought by the requester. In certain cases, the records can be produced in fewer than 10 days. However, large or complex requests may take much longer to fulfill.
How does the University prioritize requests and responses?
Generally, the University processes public records requests on a first-in, first-out basis. The University reserves the right to make exceptions when deemed essential. Under the University’s policy, we place the highest priority on requests from North Carolina citizens and North Carolina news media outlets.
What fees may be charged for processing a public records request?
Under the North Carolina Public Records Act, public agencies are authorized to charge minimal fees to cover the actual cost of reproducing public records or public information.
The University may charge a fee for searching for, gathering, and copying documents that are public records. This includes but is not limited to the time spent identifying and gathering records, or information from existing public records.
Requesters will be notified in advance of any service fees that will be assessed for cases involving extensive information technology resources or extensive clerical or supervisory assistance exceeding four hours. The hourly rate is $18. The University may not include the cost of redacting legally privileged or confidential information in calculating the service fee.
The Public Records staff will provide a requester with a written estimate with information on possible service fees. The requester may also choose to narrow the scope of the request.
Can I inspect a public record in person?
The University is required to provide an opportunity for inspection and examination of its public records during normal business hours (8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays). The University may set parameters for how inspections occur to protect those records and to not disrupt campus operations. Alternative arrangements will be necessary in cases in which original documents include protected or confidential information.
I’m an employee at UNC-Chapel Hill. Am I responsible for maintaining my own public records?
Yes, each UNC-Chapel Hill employee is responsible for following the University’s General Records Retention and Disposition Schedule.
There are several guides to assist employees, including the Records Management page hosted by University Archives and this story in The Well with tips and hints on how to manage files and email. The key principles to remember are deletion, retention, and prevention.
Employees should:
- Delete transitory emails right away, so they don’t crowd your inbox;
- Dump deleted files at the end of each day, like taking out the trash;
- Be organized. Use folders to organize items that would be considered public records;
- Make sure at least one other person in your office has access to the folders you control and knows what’s in them just in case;
- When sorting digital or paper public records, label them with a to be destroyed date based on the General Records Schedule; and
- Try to keep file storage simple.
How do I contact the Public Records Office?
Public Records Office
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Campus Box #6205
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-9050
Phone: (919) 962-8511