As a public institution, UNLV must provide public records upon request in accordance with the Nevada Open Records Act (NRS 239.010 ), which guarantees access to public records of the state government.

Employees are required to complete the Understanding Public Records Training to better understand their role as a state employee and the university’s legal obligations to promptly comply with public records requests. Employees will be automatically enrolled in the training upon hire and notified annually through UNLV’s REBELearn platform.

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UNLV is committed to providing public records in compliance with the Nevada Open Records Act, Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) Chapter 239. The Office of Public Affairs, with support from the Office of General Council, is the designated administrative unit at UNLV responsible for accepting, reviewing, and responding to public records requests, and coordinates the gathering of such records across the university.

Below are frequently asked questions.

What are public records?

Nevada Revised Statutes interpret “public records” to include all records prepared or maintained by university employees while performing work-related duties, including, but not limited to, contracts, reports, presentations, and electronic and other correspondence related to university operations.

Who can submit a public record request?

Any member of the public is entitled to inspect, copy, or receive a copy of public books and records in the custody of UNLV, subject to applicable legal requirements and this policy statement.

How to submit a public record request

Although the request need not be in writing, the requester should submit a written request to better facilitate the process. You can submit a request for public records in one of the following ways:

  1. Through the UNLV Public Records Center (preferred)
  2. Send an email to: publicrecords@unlv.edu
  3. Mail a letter to:

    Office of Public Affairs
    University of Nevada, Las Vegas
    4505 S Maryland Parkway
    Box 451012
    Las Vegas, NV 89154-1012

How quickly does UNLV have to respond to a request?

The university makes every effort to respond no later than five (5) business days from the day after we receive the request, either with a response or with an estimate of when the records will be made available, as required by Nevada law. Some requests require additional time to gather records, review records for responsiveness, and perform legal review. Records that contain potentially confidential information will be redacted and/or withheld based on existing privileges under state and federal law and the NSHE Code.

What do I do if I receive a public record request?

Any UNLV employee who receives a record request, whether verbally by phone/voicemail or in writing through the mail, email, or fax, should immediately provide it to publicrecords@unlv.edu, as the five-day timeline presumably begins the day after the public record request is received by the university employee.  If you receive a general inquiry related to public records, please refer the individual to unlv.edu/publicrecords.

Who is responsible for preserving public records?

UNLV employees are required to maintain all records reasonably necessary or appropriate to maintain an accurate record of their official activities.

Each NSHE institution and unit (the Board of Regents’, Chancellor’s and System Computing Services’ offices), for the management of its records, must:

  1. Maintain its records in a manner which is secure, cost effective, and which allows for the reasonably rapid retrieval and protection of the information contained within the record;
  2. Refrain from accumulating unnecessary records which are not essential to the proper functioning of the institution or unit;
  3. Protect confidential personal identifying information of employees and students; and
  4. Adhere to the NSHE records retention schedule for retention, disposal and appropriate transfer of records with archival value to the institution or unit archivist, or the State Archivist.
The purpose of the Retention Schedules is to provide consistency and clarity regarding the retention and management of records and UNLV.

What do I do if Public Affairs contacts me to provide records?

If Public Affairs contacts you to provide records, please do so expeditiously, or work with your supervisor to identify the individual in your unit who can thoroughly research and gather the requested records. Please communicate regularly with Public Affairs on anticipated timelines so that Public Affairs can provide the requesting party an estimated date of completion. We appreciate your assistance and urgency.
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