Lower Columbia College is subject to the provisions of Washington state public disclosure laws governing access to public records and will respond accordingly. There may be exemptions to disclosure that prohibit the college from releasing certain documents.
The statutes governing public records can be found on the Washington State Legislature website under Chapter 42.56 RCW: Public Records Act or Chapter 132M-110 WAC: Public Records Disclosure Policy
Important Note: Public Records vs. Student Records
Please note that requests for Public Records and Student Records follow different legal requirements and processes:
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Public Records Requests (WA Public Records Act): For general college operations, administrative documents, institutional data, policies, or other non-exempt public records. These requests must be submitted through the NextRequest portal (or via the Public Records Officer; see below).
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Requests for Student Education Records & Personal Information (FERPA): Requests for a student’s records or personally identifiable information are protected under the Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA). FERPA requests should NOT be submitted through NextRequest.
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For student records requests by the student or a third party, please email your request to Registration Services directly at registration@lowercolumbia.edu.
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For degree or enrollment verification by third-parties, visit DegreeVerify.
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For information on requesting a student transcript, visit Transcripts.
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We are unable to provide any information to third-party requestors via phone, due to FERPA’s authentication and recordkeeping requirements.
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Making a Public Records Request
The Public Records Act requires that records requested be "identifiable". A general question is not a public records request. The Act also lists certain public records that do not have to be disclosed.
To help us respond as quickly as possible, please be specific about the records you are requesting. We also require your contact information so we can reach you with questions or send the records upon completion.
How to Submit
- Online Portal (Preferred): Submit directly through our NextRequest Online Public Records Portal
- By Email: Send your detailed request to publicrecords@lowercolumbia.edu
- In Person: Visit Human Resources, Room 120 of the Administration Building
- Verbally over the phone: Call HR at (360) 442-2120
What to Include in Your Request
- Requester's full name, complete mailing address, phone number, and fax number (if applicable).
- Specific description of requested records (e.g., title, subject matter, date range, specific policy or contract).
- Purpose of the request.
Copy Charges & Fee Schedule
Copying charges may apply depending on the fulfillment method. You may choose to review records at no charge during a pre-approved in-person appointment instead of receiving copies; please specify this option on your request if preferred.
Total costs depend on the delivery method selected and the volume of responsive records:
| Delivery Method | Fee Schedule |
|---|---|
| NextRequest Online Portal | $0.05 per every 4 electronic files $0.10 per GB |
| Thumb Drive / External Media | 16GB: $4.39 32GB: $7.93 64GB: $8.81 128GB: $19.79 256GB: $28.65 1TB External Drive: $60.54 (Plus $0.29 packaging and $4.00 postage) |
| In-Person Pickup | Cost of digital media (above) or Black & White photocopies ($0.15 / page) |
| Document Scanning | Scanned paper documents into electronic format ($0.10 / page) |
Fees are calculated in accordance with RCW 42.56.120.