Kathryn Amato, University Relations and Communications, has been designated as the legal custodian of all public records maintained at the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, except for patient health records that are under the control of the Norris Health Center or any other health care provide associated with the university.
This campus of the University of Wisconsin System has normal office hours of 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays. Requests to inspect records or to receive copies of records should be made directly to the designated custodian by telephone, email, or in person at Chapman Hall. Requests will be processed as soon as practicable and without delay.
Requesters may be charged $.25 for each hard-physical copy. A two-sided hard copy constitutes two pages. Requesters are not permitted to take photographs of records during any in-person records inspection in lieu of requesting copies of documents.
If mailing of records is requested, postal charges may be added to the copying charge. If a search is necessary to locate records, the requesting party will be so advised and may be charged the actual, necessary and direct cost of location, if the cost exceeds $50. If the total costs of any request exceed $5, prepayment of all charges may be required.
The Wisconsin public records law requires this notice to list the following positions at the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee that constitute state public office holders:
- Chancellor
- Provost/Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs
- Vice Chancellor of Finance & Administrative Affairs
- Vice Chancellor of University Relations and Communications
- Vice Chancellor of Development and Alumni Relations
- Vice Chancellor of Global Inclusion and Engagement
Questions and requests should be directed to:
Kathryn Amato, Custodian of Public Records, University Relations and Communications, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Chapman Hall 180, Post Office Box 413, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201-0413; telephone: 414-229-2849; fax: 414-229-6261; email: public-records@uwm.edu.
Electronic Audio and Video Records:
As the Office of Public Records has received a sharp increase in records, it does not possess the resources necessary to handle the processing of electronic audio and video records created by the various departments on campus. Electronic audio and video records most often include body camera, voice and video camera recordings. To keep UW-Milwaukee in compliance with open records law, FERPA, and other legal deadlines, electronic audio and video records are typically to be redacted first by the home department.
Requests should still be made to public-records@uwm.edu. Requests will be passed along to the designee in the home department for processing.
It is the responsibility of the home department to view or listen to the whole recording, make any necessary redactions and then contact the Office of Public Records for a final review. The Office of Public Records will then provide a final review of the audio or video record. Please note that the final review will be completed as soon as practicable and without delay. The Public Records Custodian is available for consultation throughout the process.
Public Records Requests By Month (2015-2019):
| 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | |
| January | 17 | 26 | 27 | 45 | 51 |
| February | 38 | 28 | 43 | 69 | 43 |
| March | 27 | 51 | 32 | 74 | 76 |
| April | 32 | 40 | 26 | 40 | 58 |
| May | 18 | 32 | 34 | 69 | 36 |
| June | 22 | 26 | 42 | 41 | 38 |
| July | 18 | 25 | 52 | 52 | 48 |
| August | 24 | 45 | 34 | 59 | 51 |
| September | 18 | 34 | 59 | 44 | 59 |
| October | 27 | 37 | 69 | 42 | 51 |
| November | 40 | 26 | 68 | 73 | |
| December | 30 | 24 | 54 | 29 | |
| Total | 311 | 394 | 540 | 637 | 511 |
UWM Employees, the following are all subject to review and potential release under Wisconsin public records law:
- All email messages to and from your uwm.edu account
- All email messages to and from a personal email account that relate to University business
- All text messages to and from a personal mobile phone that relates to University business
Tips on managing your University email account are available.
Review records management and retention schedules often.
A Public Records 101 presentation is available upon request.