Pennsylvania’s Right to Know Law
What is the Pennsylvania "Right to Know Law"?
The Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law (RTKL) gives the public access to records from public agencies in Pennsylvania. WCU is a public agency. The law went into effect on January 1, 2009, and was updated in 2021. The RTKL assumes that all public agency records are public unless there is a legal reason to withhold them. Reasons for withholding records include exceptions provided under state or federal laws, judicial orders, attorney-client privilege, or exceptions provided under the RTKL.
As a public agency, WCU is subject to Pennsylvania’s Right-To-Know Law . WCU has a legal duty to respond to the RTKL requests within five (5) business days. As a WCU employee, it is your obligation to cooperate with these requests.
Self-Service Access to Records
Some public records are readily available using the following links.
- For WCU contracts see the PA Treasury e-Library at PA Treasury e-Library.
- For for awarded contract bids and open contract bidding opportunities see PennBid.
- For PA Criminal Dockets see PA Case Search.
Frequently Requested Records That are Not Provided Under RTKL
- Student transcripts are not public records and are not available under the RTKL. See the Registrar’s webpage for transcript request information here Academic Transcripts.
- Police body camera footage is only available under Act 22 of 2017, Chapter 67A. Act 22 established a new process for requesting law enforcement audio and video recordings. For more information about police body camera footage see Police Body Camera Request and contact WCU Public Safety Compliance Coordinator, JP Carr at jcarr2@wcupa.edu or 610-436-3512.
Christine R. Siegl, Open Records Officer
AVP for Academic Contract Administration & Compliance Operations
628 South High Street, Office 202
West Chester, PA 19383
Fax: 610-738-0314
Email: Right-to-Know