The Kansas Open Records Act grants you the right to inspect and obtain copies of public records created or maintained by public agencies in Kansas. The Open Records Act, K.S.A. 45-215 et seq., as amended, declares that it is the public policy of Kansas that "public records shall be open for inspection by any person." Public records are defined as "any recorded information, regardless of form or characteristics, which is made, maintained or kept by or is in the possession of any public agency." Pittsburg State University is classified as a public agency for the purposes of this Act.
Public records maintained by Pittsburg State University:
Regulations
Policies
Minutes/Records of open meetings
Salaries of public officials
Agency budget documents
Your rights
You have the right to request assistance from the agency's Freedom of Information Officer at any time. You have the right:
Your responsibilities
You must request records - written, photographic, or computerized. The Kansas Open Records Act does not require an agency to answer questions, prepare reports, or compile information.
An agency may require you to put your request in writing, and you must provide proof of your identity, if requested.
Reasonable fees, not exceeding actual cost, may be charged for access to records, copies of records, and staff time for processing your request.
Requesting a record
Kristi Toeller, Administrative Coordinator, President's Office, 207 Russ Hall, Pittsburg State University, Pittsburg, Kansas 66762, phone 620-235-4100, is the designated Official Custodian of Public Records, and requests for inspection and copies of records should be directed to her.
Regular office hours on all business days, excluding Saturday, Sunday, and official holidays, are from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Records may be inspected during those hours. The university is closed on official holidays.
We ask that you submit a written request to obtain public records. Please include the following information in your request:
Your name, mailing address and daytime telephone number;
Fax number, if applicable;
A specific description of the records you are requesting. Make your request as specific as possible to expedite the process.
Direct your request to:
Kristi Toeller
Administrative Coordinator
President's Office
Pittsburg State University
Pittsburg, KS 66762
Email: openrecords@pittstate.edu
Charges for the service shall be collected in advance.
Agency records shall remain in the possession and control of an agency staff member during inspection and/or duplication.
Consult with our Freedom of Information Officer, Jamie Brooksher, General Counsel, 207 Russ Hall, Pittsburg State University, Pittsburg, Kansas, 66762; phone 620-235-4136, to ask questions about the Open Records Act, or to obtain assistance in resolving disputes relating to the Act.
Delays and/or denied requests
All efforts will be made to process your request for public records as soon as it is received; however, some requests may be delayed or denied if:
More information is needed in order to retrieve the records; legal issues must be addressed before the records are released; the requested records are archived or stored off site; the volume of records requested is large and will take time to duplicate.
Requests may be denied in whole or in part if:
The requested record does not exist; the requested record is exempt from disclosure by law; the request is unclear and more information is needed.
If the request is delayed or denied, you will receive a written explanation for the delay or denial within those three days.
Permission to inspect or copy public records may be denied if (1) the request "places an unreasonable burden in producing public records" or (2) the custodian of the records "has reason to believe that repeated requests are intended to disrupt other essential functions of the public agency." Denial of a person's inspection or copying request must be explained in writing if the person requests such an explanation.
Copies of radio or recording tapes or disks, video tapes or films, pictures, slides, graphics, illustrations or similar audio or visual items or devices shall not be required to be furnished unless such items or devices were shown or played to a public meeting of the Kansas Board of Regents or other public body.
Charges and fees
Fees shall be charged for the provision of access to and the copying of public records. Fees for copies shall equal the actual cost of furnishing copies, including the cost of staff time required to make them or supervise the copying. Fees for providing access to computer records shall include the cost of computer services, including staff time required.
In accordance with this provision and the Kansas Open Records Act, K.S.A. 45-215 et seq., the following fees may be charged for providing access to or furnishing copies of public records:
Photocopies -- $0.25 per page
Scanned Data: $0.25 per page
Mailing: $1.40
Postage: Actual Cost
Fax: $0.90 per page
CD: $0.60 each
Cost of Staff Time: Varies
Exceptions to the Open Records Act
The Kansas Open Records Act recognizes that certain records contain private or privileged information. The Act lists several exceptions, including, but not limited to:
Personnel records of public employees
Medical treatment records
Records protected by attorney/client privilege
Records closed by the rules of evidence
Records containing personal information compiled for census purposes
Notes and preliminary drafts
Criminal investigation records
Several other specific types of records
A complete list of exemption can be found in K.S.A. 45-221.
An agency is only required to provide public records that already exist. There is no requirement for the agency to create a record upon request.
Nothing in the Open Records Act supersedes federal law, including the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (Buckley Amendment).
If a record is only partially exempted from disclosure, the designated record custodian shall delete the exempted materials and make available the material that is subject to disclosure. Records which are exempt because they pertain to an identifiable individual are subject to disclosure if deletion of the identifying portions of the records is possible.
Public records more than 70 years old are open for inspection without regard to the above-listed exemption. Disclosure of such records is prohibited only if federal or state law so provides.
Additional Information
If you have questions about the Act or the university's policies under it, contact Pittsburg State University's Freedom of Information Officer, Jamie Brooksher, at 620-235-4136, or e-mail: jbrooksher@pittstate.edu
Page revision date: 08/17/2020