TCC Public Records
Overview
Tacoma Community College (TCC) upholds principles of openness, transparency, and accountability in all our endeavors, ensuring we meet the highest standards for those we serve.
As a publicly funded institution, we are required to make our records available to the public under RCW 42.56. All records are provided electronically unless specified otherwise by the requester.
How to Submit a Public Records Request
You may submit a Public Records Request by email (preferred method), phone, in person, or in writing. If submitting the request via email, we recommend using the form (although not required) and attaching it to the email request.
Public Records Request Form and Index
WRITTEN PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST
A written Public Records Request should include the following information:
- Your name
- Mailing address
- Telephone number
- Detailed description of the requested records
Send Your Request To:
Public Records Officer
Tacoma Community College
6501 S 19th St
Tacoma, WA 98466
AFTER THE REQUEST IS RECEIVED
The College will contact requesters within five business days of the request (or 5 business days from receipt if sent by mail). In this initial correspondence the College will:
- Provide copies of records or provide an estimate of when the records will be available; or
- Reply that no responsive documents exist; or
- Acknowledge the request and ask for additional clarification(s); and/or
- Provide applicable exemption(s).
THIRD PARTY NOTIFICATION
Requested records sometimes contain information that is exempt or protected from release without notification to affected individuals. In these cases, the College will provide affected individuals ten business days to seek a court order blocking the release of records.
RECORDS REVIEW
All records are provided electronically unless specified otherwise by the requester. In some cases, there will be charges associated with providing the records per RCW 42.56.120(2)(b). TCC charges 15 cents per page for hard copies of records.
EXEMPTIONS TO DISCLOSURE
The Public Records Act, RCW 42.56, has few exemptions which are generally narrowly interpreted. All records are considered public unless a specific exemption can be cited.
The College is also bound by the provisions of several other Acts which may prevent the release of certain records. For instance, a students' right to privacy is protected under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act and is the most commonly used exemption at higher education institutions and protects student education records.
IS MY REQUEST CONFIDENTIAL?
Public records requests received by TCC are public records. With the exception of applicable exemptions, public records requests are subject to disclosure upon request.
Contact Public Records
Phone
253-566-5051
Website
https://www.tacomacc.edu/about/Public-Records