In 1972, Washington enacted the Public Records act to assure citizens of the state transparency and access to government. As a state agency, we are subject to the provisions of the Washington state public disclosure laws (RCW 42.56) governing access to public records and will respond accordingly. There may be exemptions to disclosure that may prohibit the college from releasing certain documents. The college will provide a brief explanation for any exemption to disclosure.
Within 5 business days of receiving a request the college will:
Records not exempt may contain personal or other information which may require us to notify affected individual(s) of the request. We may provide affected individual(s) a reasonable opportunity to seek court protection from disclosure.
There generally is little cost for electronic copies. However, not all documents are available electronically. Current costs for documents include:
Some records are exempt from public disclosure law. Following are some examples:
The Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act of 1974, 20 U.S.C. § 1232g, prohibits the disclosure of personally identifiable information in student education records without the student's written consent. Records (or portions of records) marked [1] are student records protected from disclosure under RCW 42.56.070(1) and 20 U.S.C. §1232g.
RCW 5.60.060(2)(a) protects communications between an attorney and the attorney's client(s) for the purpose of obtaining or providing legal advice. The attorney-client privilege also protects communications within a client agency to gather information for obtaining legal advice or to convey attorney-client communications. Records (or portions of records) marked [2] are privileged attorney-client communications protected from disclosure under RCW 42.56.070(1) and 5.60.062(2)(a).
RCW 42.56.290 protects attorney work product, consisting of drafts, notes, memoranda, research, attorney-client communications, and other records prepared, collected, or assembled in litigation or in anticipation of litigation that reveal factual or investigative information or that reflect the opinions or mental impressions of an attorney or attorney's agent(s). Records (or portions of records) marked [3] consist of attorney work product protected from disclosure under RCW 42.56.290.
RCW 42.56.250(2) protects applications for public employment, including the names of applicants, resumes, and other related materials submitted with respect to an applicant for public employment. Records (or portions of records) marked [4] are public employee application materials protected from disclosure under RCW 42.56.290.
RCW 42.56.250(3) protects the personal addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, social security numbers, and emergency contact information of public employees and volunteers, as well as the names, birthdates, addresses, phone numbers, and social security numbers of dependents. Records (or portions of records) marked [5] are exempt from disclosure as personal employee information protected under RCW 42.56.250(3).
RCW 42.56.250(2) and 42.56.050 protect personal information in files maintained for public employees to the extent that disclosure would violate their right to privacy. Records (or portions of records) marked [6] are exempt from disclosure as containing private information in employee files protected under RCW 42.56.250(2) and 42.56.050.
RCW 42.56.230(6) protects personal financial information, including credit/debit card numbers, electronic check numbers, credit expiration dates, or bank or other financial account numbers. Records (or portions of records) marked [7] are withheld as containing personal financial information protected under RCW 42.56.230(6).
Portions of public records marked [8] are withheld as containing individual Social Security Numbers protected from disclosure under RCW 42.56.070(1) and 5 U.S.C. § 552(a).
RCW 42.56.420(4) protects information regarding the infrastructure and security of computer and telecommunications networks, including security passwords, security access codes and programs, and access codes for secure software applications. Records (or portions of records) marked [9] are withheld as containing systems security information protected from disclosure under RCW 42.56.420(4).
All information that you provide Seattle Colleges, even your email communications, are considered public records. As a public organization, Seattle Colleges is required to respond to public records requests and disclose information from its purchasing records that may consist of other vendors’ confidential information. Therefore, please do not include any sensitive information or materials such as trade secrets or proprietary in your official bids, proposals, quotations, or correspondences. If you do so and do not want disclosure of such information, you must hire an attorney to file an injunction.
Amanda Simpfenderfer, Public Records Office (206) 934-3873
Board Member Institution of the League for Innovation