Public Records Request

Midland College is considered a "governmental body" and is subject to the Texas Public Information Act. The Act provides the public the right to access the College's open records.

Texas Public Information Act

Texas Government Code, Chapter 552, gives you the right to access government records; and an officer for public information and the officer's agent may not ask why you want them. All government information is presumed to be available to the public. Certain exceptions may apply to the disclosure of the information. Governmental bodies shall promptly release requested information that is not confidential by law, either constitutional, statutory, or by judicial decision, or information for which an exception to disclosure has not been sought. For more information about the Texas Public Information Act or rights of requestors, you may wish to refer to the Attorney General's Public Information Handbook.

Midland College Public Information Policy and Procedures

Requests for public information shall be made to Midland College by one of the following methods:

1. Hand deliver to Public Information Request, Pevehouse Administration Building, Room 136, Midland College, 3600 N. Garfield, Midland, TX;
2. U.S. mail to 3600 N. Garfield St., Midland, TX 79705, Attention: Public Information Request;
3. Email PublicInformationRequest@midland.edu.

In the event a catastrophe, as defined by law, impacts the College District, the Board shall suspend the applicability of the Texas Public Information Act to the College District for the time permitted by law and provide the required notices to the attorney general and the public. The Board shall extend an initial suspension period as necessary in accordance with law.

Midland College will adhere to the following responsibilities as outlined in Texas Government Code, Chapter 552:

• Be informed about open records laws and educate employees on the requirements of those laws;
• Segregate public information from information that may be withheld and provide that public information promptly;
• Inform the requestor if the information cannot be provided promptly and set a date and time to provide it within a reasonable time;
• Follow guidelines outlined in in Section 552.261 of the Government Code for assessing charges associated with requests;
• Treat all requestors uniformly and give to the requestor all reasonable comfort and facility, including accommodation in accordance with ADA requirements;
• Make a good faith attempt to inform third parties when their proprietary information is being requested from the governmental body;
• Request a ruling from the Office of the Attorney General regarding any information the governmental body wishes to withhold and send a copy of the request for ruling, or a redacted copy, to the requestor.