Public Records Requests

Jane Adams, Vice President of University Relations
Jamie Lewis Keith, Vice President and General Counsel

We are pleased to announce that the University of Florida has purchased software to streamline the public records request process for employees, media and the general public.

Beginning today, anyone seeking public records may be encouraged to use UF’s new online Public Records Center at publicrecords.ufl.edu. The website provides an efficient path to request police records or general university records all in one place. It also provides a section with answers to frequently asked questions and a way for users to monitor the progress of their requests online.

It is important to keep in mind that while our new Public Records Center offers an efficient and convenient way to request records and track status, individuals making requests are not required to use this system and are expressly permitted by law to make requests in any manner they choose (verbal, written to any employee, anonymous, etc.) UF must provide non-exempt public records upon request from any member of the public in accordance with Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes. Public records requests must be given a priority status by law.

At UF, the office of Media Relations and Public Affairs facilitates all public records requests for the university, including coordinating the collection of the documents with the appropriate department or individual, providing them to General Counsel’s Office for review and any necessary redaction and finally disseminating them to the requestor. Media Relations and Public Affairs will monitor and manage the new web portal. Anyone receiving a public records request from someone who declines to use the web portal should immediately forward the request by email to pr-request@ufl.edu.

While public records include virtually any document created, received or maintained by the university or by its representatives acting in their official capacities, subject to some exemptions and statutory confidentiality requirements, employees should not make a determination of what is a public record. That job falls to the General Counsel’s Office since the university could face sanctions if it releases confidential information protected from disclosure or fails to release records that are required by law to be provided.

If you have questions, please call Janine Sikes, assistant vice president for Media Relations and Public Affairs, at jysikes@ufl.edu or 846-3903.