PRP 2505 - Official Requests for Information
(Right to Know)
Issued by: Sharon K. Meyer, Vice President
Effective Date:
Reissued by: Richard H. Rugen, Vice President
Notes: Approved by GAC December 6, 2000: Endorsed by the Forum March 9, 2001
Approved by SSHE Legal Counsel March 13, 2003.
Upated - April 2004
The purpose of this policy is to control the availability of information related to any University component. Requests can be submitted in hard copy, via facsimile or electronically Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. This policy is written to comply with Management Directive 205.36 and is to be in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth subject to, when applicable, all Federal and State laws pertaining to confidentiality. The following names the Right To Know Officer and designated Right To Know liaisons on campus.
| Right to Know Officer: | Dr. Richard H. Rugen |
| Vice President, Administration and Finance | |
| 15 WAB | |
| 400 East Second Street | |
| Bloomsburg, PA 17815 | |
| Right to Know Liaisons: | |
| (Media or Marketing Info Requests) | Tom McGuire |
| Office of Communication | |
| 107 WAB | |
| 400 East Second Street | |
| Bloomsburg, PA 17815 | |
| (Employee Information Requests) | Virginia Rinkus |
| Director of Human Resources | |
| 133 WAB | |
| 400 East Second Street | |
| Bloomsburg, PA 17815 | |
| (Student Information Requests) | Joseph Kissell |
| (FERPA Officer) | 150 SSC |
| 400 East Second Street | |
| Bloomsburg, PA 17815 | |
| (Chemical and Hazardous Waste Information Requests) | Bob Klinger |
| Director of University Safety and Police | |
| Lower UBS | |
| 400 East Second Street | |
| Bloomsburg, PA 17815 |
All requests for information not covered by the above areas will be coordinated with the Right to Know Officer. The Right To Know Officer should also be made aware of each request that is received.
Requests for Information: Requests should be addressed to the Right To Know Officer or designated Right To Know Liaison. The requests, which can be submitted in hard copy, via facsimile or electronically, must include the name and address to which the university's response should be forwarded and the specific records being requested. Upon receipt of the request, the designated person shall be responsible for date stamping and creating an official file.
Response Time: Responses to written requests must be made within 10 business days from the date that the request is received by the designated person. Failure to respond within the 10 day period will be deemed a denial of the request. The University may send a notice that the request is being reviewed, the reason for review, and a reasonable date that a response will be provided, preferably within 30 days. Extensions beyond the 30-day limit may be deemed a denial.
Denial of Request: If the University's response is a denial, it shall be in writing and include a description of the record requested, the specific reason(s) for the denial (including supporting legal authority), the name, title, business address, phone number, and signature of the public official on whose authority the denial is issued, the date of the response, and the procedure to appeal the denial of access as set forth under the Right to Know Act.
A requester may file exceptions to the denial with the Exceptions Officer (official designated by the University to consider exceptions, conduct hearings as appropriate, and issue final resolution) within 15 business days of the mailing date noted above, or within 15 days of a deemed denial (failure to respond within 10 days). The Exceptions Officer shall make a final determination within 30 days of the mailing date of the exception. The University is not required to conduct a hearing. If the University denies the appeal, the requester may appeal to Commonwealth Court within 30 days.
(Exceptions Officer) Dr. David Soltz
University President
Carver Hall
400 East Second Street
Bloomsburg, PA 17815
Fees: Fees may be imposed on the requestor to include postage, duplication, certification, conversion of non-paper media to paper, enhanced electronic access and waiver of fees. Fees must be reasonable and not for the purpose of excluding persons from access or to create a profit for the university. Such fees may be charged in advance if they are expected to exceed $100.
Fee Schedule
| Postage | Current Rate |
| Duplication | Single Page 2 cents + Labor Rate @ Actual Cost |
| Double Sided 3 cents + Labor Rate@ Actual Cost | |
| Conversion to Paper | Actual Cost |
| Other | Actual Cost |
Pennsylvania Right to Know Law dictates that the names of the Right to Know officers and liaisons be listed in this policy. In the event that the names of the Right to Know officers and liaisons change, the information in this policy will be updated accordingly by the administration and will not be subject to review by the university governance process.
Templates for responses to the scenarios mentioned in this policy are available in the Governors Office Management Directive 205.36 or go to http://sites.state.pa.us/oa/directives/205-36.pdf