Submit MPIA Request
Policy of Proactive Disclosure Related to Public Information Requests
- Pursuant to Annotated Code of Maryland, General Provisions Article (“GP”), Section 4-104, UMBC has adopted a policy of proactive disclosure of public records that are available to members of the public for immediate inspection. Numerous records are available — at no cost and without redaction — throughout the extensive umbc.edu website. Users may utilize the website’s Search function to locate specific records
- The following links contain frequently requested records and information:
USM and UMBC Policies & Procedures
Consumer Information/Higher Education Opportunity Act
Office of Undergraduate Admissions
The Maryland Public Information Act (PIA), gives the public the right to review and obtain copies of disclosable public records, except to the extent the records are protected from release because they fall within a statutorily recognized exemption to the law. Disclosable public records are only those made or received by a unit of State government in connection with the transaction of public business. In addition, the PIA does not require UMBC to answer informational questions or to create a record to satisfy a request. Your correspondence to the University making a request is itself a public record and may be asked for by other requesters, along with the University’s response. The PIA is found in the General Provisions Article, §§ 4-101 through 4-601, of the Annotated Code of Maryland, and accessible here.
PIA Process:
- Requests can be received only when the University is open. Upon receipt, the University will perform a preliminary assessment of your request to determine if the University is the appropriate custodian of the records. The University will also review the request for completeness.
- The PIA, § 4-206, permits the University to charge for the search, preparation and reproduction of a public record to be made available for inspection—excluding the first two hours of work.
- To offer the most efficient customer service, the University requires payment for any estimated amount due before the work is performed. The search, preparation and copying process will begin upon receipt of the total estimated fee. If the actual fee differs from the estimate, the fee will be adjusted accordingly, and you will receive an additional bill or refund as appropriate.
- Please make your money order or check payable to “UMBC” and send it to the Office of General Counsel at the address above. You may also hand-deliver this payment. The Office of the General Counsel does not accept cash, credit cards, or PayPal.
- If the University does not receive your payment within thirty (30) calendar days from the date of our reply, it will presume that you are no longer interested in pursuing your request and close the file accordingly. Thereafter, a new request must be submitted.
- Persons who disagree with any response to a PIA request, may seek review of the decision in accordance with § 4-362 of the PIA.