*THE OFFICE OF PUBLIC RECORDS & OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS IS MOVING FROM 11TH AVE NE TO A NEW ADDRESS AT 4320 BROOKYLN AVE NE, SUITE 402, SEATTLE, WA 98105, EFFECTIVE JANUARY 9, 2025. PLEASE DIRECT ALL MAILED CORRESPONDENCE TO THIS NEW ADDRESS.*
How do I make a public records request?
Click here to submit a public records request via the online portal.
Alternatively, you may email your request to pubrec@uw.edu, fax your request to (206) 616-6294, or mail your request to:
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
Office of Public Records & Open Public Meetings
4320 Brooklyn Ave NE, Suite 402
Box 354997
Seattle, WA 98105
If you need assistance, please contact us by telephone or in person (by appointment only) and we will assist you.
Requests must include your contact information and a description of the identifiable records sought.
What happens when I make a public records request?
The Office of Public Records and Open Public Meetings acts as a clearing house for requests for records from the public. When we receive a request, it joins a queue of other public records requests.
Within five business days you will be sent a notification that your request has been received. The office’s staff contacts the department(s) that holds the records you seek and provides them with a copy of your request. The departments will identify, collect and forward the records to the Office of Public Records and Open Public Meetings.
Once received, public records staff will review the records and may redact information from records as allowed by the public records statute, state law, federal law or case law. Our staff may also notify third parties who have an interest in the records that you have made a public records request.
Once our staff completes the review and records are ready to be released, you will be contacted. Response time to requests varies depending on many factors such as volume and complexity.
How Can I Receive Records?
Requesters can receive records in the following ways:
- Digital records via our online portal*
- Records mailed to your address on a thumb drive**
- In-person pick up of a thumb drive or photocopies (by appointment only)
*Requesters who submit their public records request through the online portal will receive digital records.
**Requests received via methods other than the online portal will receive records on a thumb drive sent via U.S. mail, unless the requester specifies otherwise.
How much does it cost to obtain public records?
Costs vary based on a requester’s chosen delivery method:
Online portal
- $0.05 for every 4 files and $0.10 per GB
Thumb drive
- 16GB Thumb Drive $4.39
- 32GB Thumb Drive $7.93
- 64GB Thumb Drive $8.81
- 128GB Thumb Drive $19.79
- 256GB Thumb Drive $28.65
- 1TB External Drive $60.54
- PLUS packaging ($0.29) and postage ($4.00)
In-person pickup
- Costs of digital media (see above) or a Black & White photocopy ($0.15/page)
Requesters will be notified in advance of any non-standard charges.
The portal says my password is incorrect, what should I do?
Our portal automatically resets the password every 42 days. If you have not accessed it recently, you may need to reset your password here.
How do I request my personnel file?
If you are current faculty or staff, you may request a copy of your official personnel file from UW Human Resources here.
How do I access my payslips?
If you are a current employee instructions for accessing your payslips can be found here.
If you are a former employee (former employees are eligible to access electronic copies of their payslips through the remainder of the year in which they left the University, plus three years afterward) instructions for accessing your payslips can be found here.
How do I submit a request for employment verification?
Instructions for submitting employment verification requests can be found here.
How do I request medical records?
If you are seeking medical records, you can find guidance here.
How do I request my student records, including my transcript and enrollment/graduation verification?
If you are a student, you may request your transcript here.
Requests for enrollment/graduation verification can be made here.
For all other FERPA requests, please visit the Registrar’s website.
How do I locate the University’s retention schedule?
The University’s general retention schedule and department specific retention schedules can be found here.