UMDNJ Responsibilities

The UMDNJ Responsibilities section covers:

 What are the responsibilities of the University?
 Information for UMDNJ Employees

What are the Responsibilities of the University?

• You have the right to request to inspect or receive a copy of a public document. The term public document generally does not include employee personnel files, pedagogical, scholarly and/or academic research records, patient health records, individual identifying information, other exceptions as listed N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 et seq, or other documents in which there is a right of privacy and confidentiality.
  
  
• The Custodian of Public Records has the responsibility to fulfill this request within seven days of receiving the request. If the Custodian of Public Records cannot retrieve the document within seven days, it has the responsibility and the right to notify the requestor within seven days when the document will be available.
  
  
• The Custodian of Public Records has the right to deny access to a record which would substantially disrupt agency operations according to N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 et seq.
  
  
• You have the right to file a complaint or appeal to the Government Records Council if your request is denied. To file a complaint or appeal, you must contact the Government Records Council or the New Jersey Superior Court, as provided by N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 et seq. If your request is denied, a statement of complaint/appeal procedures will be provided.

Information for UMDNJ Employees

On January 8, 2002 Governor DiFrancesco signed legislation into law that made major revisions to and significantly expanded the "Right to Know" law governing public access to government records. The law will become effective on July 8, 2002 and affect everyone working at the University. The law is also known as the Government Public Records Access statute, or the Open Public Records Act (OPRA).

This law significantly broadens the scope of official government records which must be made available to the public for inspection or copying at the University. The law does not detail which records are available, but rather assumes all records are available outside of defined exceptions. Various records created at public institutions of higher education are specifically exempted from the purview of the bill. Furthermore, documents, or records, means "any paper, written or printed book, document, drawing, map, plan, photograph, microfilm, data processed or image processed document, information stored or maintained electronically or by sound-recording."

The law requires the appointment of a Custodian of Public Records. Susan Glick, in the Department of Government and Public Affairs, has been named the Custodian. Requests for student records will continue to be managed through the Registrar. Confidentiality of private health information, including medical records, will not change; all patient information will continue to be guided by federal privacy laws.

Please note, all requests for public documents outside patient health information or student records should be directed to the Custodian. One of the most important requirements of this law is the quick response time required of the University. In general, the University is required to provide copies or access to the document for inspection within seven days. While there are some exceptions to this, your cooperation with the Custodian is vital to complying with the law. The services of the Custodian may be reached at the following address and phone number:

Custodian of Public Records
University Affairs
65 Bergen St. Suite 1328
Newark, NJ 07107
Phone: 973-972-3700
Fax: 973-972-7272