Timeline
Day 0
The date your request is received. If submitted on a holiday, weekend, or after 5 p.m. on a business day, the request is considered received on the next business day.
Days 1-2
The request is assigned to the relevant University department(s).
Days 5-6
The assigned department(s) will respond to the Open Records Department. This may include requesting clarification or narrowing of the request, providing an estimated completion time, or delivering the responsive records.
Day 10
On or before Day 10 a response will be provided to the requestor. This may involve releasing the records, requesting further clarification or narrowing, providing a cost estimate, notifying that a ruling from the Attorney General is being sought, or giving an estimated time of completion.
-If clarification or narrowing is requested, the requestor has 61 calendar days to respond. The date on which we receive the reply will be considered Day 0 for the clarified or narrowed request.
-If a cost estimate is provided that requires a 50% deposit, the requestor has 10 business days to submit the payment. The date on which the payment is received will be considered Day 0.
Pricing
Cost Breakdown:
Staff Time
$18 per hour (including 20% overhead) for locating, compiling, or redacting confidential information from requested records.
Programming Time
$34.20 per hour (including 20% overhead) if the request requires programming resources to access the information.
Copies
$0.10 per page for paper copies.
Multiple Requests
Requests from the same requestor, submitted on the same date, may be combined for cost purposes. To ensure separate processing, we recommend submitting requests on different days.
Fee Waivers
Under Section 552.267 of the Texas Public Information Act, fees may be waived or reduced if fulfilling the request provides a significant benefit to the general public. Written requests for fee waivers will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Payment Instructions
Payments can be made by check or money order, payable to The University of Texas at Austin. Please include a note specifying the request associated with the payment. Send payments to:
Attn: Open Records Department
Office of the Vice President for Legal Affairs
Peter T. Flawn Academic Center
2304 Whitis Avenue, Suite 438
Mail Stop G4800
Austin, Texas 78712
In compliance with the Texas Public Information Act (Texas Government Code, Chapter 552), The University of Texas at Austin may assess fees for fulfilling public information requests when the total cost exceeds $40. The fees we charge and the types of work subject to charges are determined by the Texas Public Information Act and the regulations set forth by the Office of the Attorney General (Chapter 70 of Title I of the Texas Administrative Code, 1 TAC §§ 70.1-70.13).
How do I find my request’s ID number?
Each request is assigned a number that begins with “R00”. A request’s unique number is the 4 digits immediately after the “R00” and before the hyphen. The numbers after the hyphen reflect the calendar date on which the request was sent (which is not necessarily the date on which it was received). For example, a request labelled R007224-081924 is UT Austin ORR no. 7224 and was sent on August 19, 2024.
How long will it take to receive a response?
Most requests can be fulfilled within 10 business days, but each request is different. The more specific you can be in targeting specific information sought, the more likely that a request will be able to be resolved quickly.
Where do I go to get a copy of my student transcript?
Student transcripts CANNOT be released through an open records request. For more information, please visit https://onestop.utexas.edu/student-records/transcripts-other-records/
Can I request educational records of a current or former student?
Requests for student education records are governed by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), 20 U.S.C §1232g. A student and their authorized representative have a right of access to their own information under FERPA, but other individuals will not be permitted to access the education records without proper authorization. Any request seeking education records of a current or former student will be denied as required by federal law unless (i) the requestor can verify their identity as the subject of the request, or (ii) the requestor provides an authorization signed by the student who is the subject of the request permitting the requestor access to the student's information.
When can I request directory information of admitted students?
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), 20 U.S.C §1232g, requires The University to permit students a period of time after admission to The University to elect to restrict the release of their directory information. The University permits students until the twelfth class day of their first semester to make this election. Because of this, information regarding students admitted to The University may be requested after the twelfth class day of each semester.
How do I disable my browser's pop-up blocker?
You need to disable your pop-up blockers in order to download files. Here are the instructions to do that:
For Chrome:
Open Chrome
Click the Chrome menu in the top right corner (three small dots vertical)
Click "Settings"
Under "Privacy and security", click "Third-party cookies"
Above the "Block third-party cookies" click the "Allow third-party cookies"
For Microsoft Edge:
Open Edge
Click the Edge menu in the top right corner (three small dots horizontal)
Click "Settings"
Under "Cookies and site permissions", click "Pop-ups and redirects"
Click the "Blocked" toggle to turn it off.
For Firefox:
Open Firefox
Click "tools"
Click "options"
Click Content
Uncheck box in front of "Block pop-up windows"
For Mac:
Click "Safari"
Click "block pop-up windows" OR
Click "Preferences"
Click "Security"
Uncheck box in front of "Block pop-up windows"
You may also disable pop-ups for our site only. Follow these instructions:
Open Chrome
Click the Chrome menu in the top right corner
Click "Settings"
Click "Show advanced settings"
Under "Privacy" click the "Content settings" button
Under "Pop-ups", click "Manage exceptions".
To what extent is information on employees’ personal devices and in employees’ personal accounts subject to open records?
If information pertains to the official business of UT Austin (if it was sent/received as part of an employee’s work for UT), then it’s subject to being requested via a public information request and should be turned over to the Open Records Department if it is requested. That’s true regardless of where the information exists. It could be on a personal laptop, in a personal email account, in a personal text message, or in a Slack/Teams chat that is otherwise purely personal in nature.
How can I access medical or mental health records held by UT Austin?
Protected health information is excluded from the definition of “public information” under Texas Government Code § 552.002 and, therefore, is not available in response to public information requests. However, records pertaining to an individual’s medical and mental health treatment can be accessed immediately from University Health Services (UHS) or The Counseling and Mental Health Center (CMHC). Instructions for how to obtain medical and mental health records directly from UHS or CMHC are available at the following website: https://www.healthyhorns.utexas.edu/uhs/medical-records-access.html.