Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon Portland Community College

Public Records Requests

Oregon Public Records Law and Board of Directors Policy

“Every person has a right to inspect any public record of a public body in this state, except as otherwise expressly provided in ORS 192.338, 192.345, and 192.355.” ORS 192.314(1). The Oregon public records law is one of disclosure, not confidentiality.

Additionally, see the PCC Board of Directors Inspection of Public Records Policy.

Accessing PCC’s Public Information

Submit a request using our records request form. You will receive a confirmation email that summarizes your request.

Make a public records request »

Other ways to submit a request:

    • Email your request to records-request-group@pcc.edu.
    • Mail a written request to:
      • Portland Community College
        Communications & Public Relations
        P.O. Box 19000, Portland, OR 97280-0990
        Attn: Public Records

Call 971-722-8865 with questions not answered here.

Fees

When a request is made, PCC staff will calculate the cost by determining:

  1. The time it takes for staff to locate and retrieve the files and/or documents;
  2. Multiplying the time it takes to retrieve the records by the hourly salary of the staff involved.

Once the cost is established we will share that information with you and provide a link to pay online. Payment in advance of receiving your records is required. You can pay via the online link or mail your payment to the address above. (If the cost ends up not being as high as estimated, the requester will receive a refund of the difference.)

Rights
  • Prompt access to information that is not confidential or otherwise protected. According to the law, the following types of records are potentially exempt from disclosure: student records, medical records, sealed records, personal records, etc. See a full list of public records exemptions.
  • Receive treatment equal to all other requestors, including accommodation in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements.
  • Receive a written itemized statement of estimated charges, when charges exceed $25, in advance of work being started and the opportunity to modify the request in response to the itemized statement.
  • A waiver or reduction of charges if the college determines that access to the information primarily benefits the public good (e.g.,  student newspaper request).

For more information about the Oregon Public Records Law or the rights of requestors, you may wish to refer to the Attorney General’s Public Information Handbook.

Frequently Asked Questions

Must my request be in writing?

Absolutely. The law and our policy require that all requests be made in writing by request form, email, or standard mail.

What if my request is simple and easy for you to process – are you still charging me?

No. We will not charge for requests that PCC can process in an hour or less of our time.

Do I have to pay in advance?

Yes. PCC asks you to pay in advance of receiving your records.

How much time will it take to receive my requested documents?

The law and our policy require that all requests be processed promptly: the standard is within 15 business days. If the College needs additional time to fulfill the request due to its complexity or other circumstances, you will be contacted with an estimate of when the request will be fulfilled.