Mississippi Public Records Act

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Background

Mississippi law (Miss. Code Ann. § 25-61-1) requires that public entities, including The University of Southern Mississippi, provide access to or copies of public records in response to a written request.

Definitions

Public records include books, records, papers, accounts, letters, maps, photographs, etc. possessed by the University and used in conducting public business.

Timeframe for Compliance

The law requires a public entity that receives public records request to comply with a written request within one day of the receipt unless the governing body for that public entity has adopted a written policy extending the time for compliance for up to, but not to exceed, seven working days. The University follows IHL Policy 301.0804, which guarantees responses to public records requests within seven working days.

Exceptions to Disclosure

Despite the mandate for open disclosure of public records, there are a number of exceptions which would limit the disclosure. For example, academic records, personnel files, and trade secrets are exempt from disclosure.

Public Records Officer Designation

The Chief Communications Officer has been designated as the Public Records Officer for the University.

Submitting a Public Records Request

Who Can Process the Request

All public records requests must be submitted to the Public Records Officer. Any person contacting a University department in person, via telephone, or via e-mail to request access to any University records should be advised that all requests must be submitted to the Public Records Officer. Under no circumstances should a department grant or deny any request for access to records.

Sending a Request

In order to request public records from Southern Miss, all public records requests must be dated, signed by the requestor, and transmitted in one of the following ways to the University’s Public Records Officer:

personally delivered to the Office of University Communications, Jones Hall on the Hattiesburg campus;
mailed to The University of Southern Mississippi, Office of University Communications, 118 College Drive #5016, Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001; or
emailed to the Office of University Communications at publicrecords@usm.edu.

Information That Must Be Included in the Public Records Request

Additionally, the request must identify the specific information sought and include the name of the requestor, the address of the requestor, and the current contact information of the requestor.

Cost of Request

Requestors will be charged for the actual cost of searching for, reviewing and, if necessary, redacting exempt information from public records. Likewise, requestors will be charged for photocopies of requested documents as well as actual costs of mailing, including the cost of the shipping container. The University requires payment in advance via cash, certified check or money order, for all costs as noted above before providing copies or access to records.