Public Information Requests
Submitting a Public Records Request
Individuals may submit a public records request online or mail a public records request form to:
Cape Fear Community College
Attn: Christina Hallingse
411 North Front Street
Wilmington, NC 28401
CFCC’s Response
CFCC works to address requests for information as promptly as possible.
If the request is unclear or does not sufficiently identify the requested information, the requester will be contacted for clarification. If clarification is not received, the request may be denied.
The request will then be reviewed to ensure that the information requested is available and not restricted from public access. For a list of records that are considered confidential, see North Carolina General Statute §132 Public records, §126-22 Personnel files not subject to inspection under §132-6 and FERPA guidelines outlined below.
Cape Fear Community College will make every effort to provide records within a reasonable timeframe. Delivery times will vary depending on factors such as:
- The size and volume of the request
- Whether the request requires additional preparation or review
Special Service Charge for Extraordinary Record Requests
NCGS § 132-6.2 authorizes public agencies to levy a special service charge to cover the actual cost and the labor costs of reproducing public records if the request requires extensive use of information technology resources or extensive use of agency personnel for clerical or supervisory assistance, or if producing the records in the medium requested results in an excessive use of information technology resources.
Effective 3/17/23, Cape Fear Community College (“CFCC”) may charge a fee if, in the opinion of CFCC, the request will require an extensive use of information technology resources or personnel. CFCC considers more than four hours required to respond to a request, excluding separation of confidential and nonconfidential information, to be an extensive use of personnel. CFCC will charge a rate of $18.00 per hour for any time in excess of four hours required to respond to the request. Any person requesting public records considered to be an extraordinary request will be notified of the estimated costs for such request by the public records custodian prior to any production efforts beginning, and the requester will be allowed the option of agreeing to pay the charge or revising the request to narrow its nature or scope. Multiple requests in a short period of time (i.e., within a 7-day period) from the same individual or agency will be considered a single request for purposes of determining whether a special service charge will be assessed.
Payment of Special Service Charge
Before releasing copies of public records, the requester must pay any applicable special service charge at CFCC’s Cashiers Office. Acceptable methods of payment are cash, check, or credit card. A copy of the public records request must be submitted with payment. After the payment is received, documents will be released in the desired medium of the requester.
Failure to Pay Required Special Service Charges
In the event a requester fails to pay a special service charge incurred within 30 calendar days, CFCC will require the requester to pay in full the past due amount owed before it will begin processing a new request or a pending request from the delinquent requester.
In addition, CFCC may require advance payment of the full amount of the estimated fees for any future requests before CFCC begins to process a new request or a pending request from that requester.
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99) is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. The law applies to all schools that receive funds under an applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education.
Schools may disclose, without consent, “directory” information such as a student’s name, address, telephone number, date and place of birth, honors and awards, and dates of attendance. Cape Fear Community College’s directory information definition can be found in the CFCC Student Handbook and Catalog .
Source: U.S. Department of Education
