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UMass Amherst Student Search Service

Caroline Haskins filed this request with the University of Massachusetts (Amherst) of Massachusetts.
Submitted Nov. 22, 2019
Status
Completed

Communications

From: Caroline Haskins

Subject: Massachusetts Public Records Law Request: UMass Amherst Student Search Service

Email


To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, I hereby request the following records:

The College Board offers "a name list service" called the "Student Search Service®" which allows universities to buy information about students for $0.47 per name. Prior to August 31, 2019, the price was $0.45 per name.
https://collegeboardsearch.collegeboard.org/pastudentsrch/support/licensing/pricing-payment-policies

Therefore, I hereby request the following records:

* Any and all contracts, purchase orders, invoices, receipts, and billing documents between the school and the College Board for the Student Search Service. This may include "consolidated billing" documents, which are default for all College Board search orders. Consolidated billing documents could include an invoice, a list of cost incurred for conducting the search order.

* Any digital communications including but not limited to emails and text messages) as well as documents, (including but not limited to PDF, word processing, excel, and slide documents) that mention the "Student Search Service" between January 1, 2016 and present.

* A copy of any privacy impact assessments, use policies, standard operating procedures, data retention policies, legal opinions, warranties, non-disclosure agreements, contracts, liability waivers, insurance agreements, Requests for Proposals, Responses to Requests for Proposal, Memorandums of Understanding, Letters of Interest, usage policies, or informal agreements between the school and the College Board that mention the Student Search Service.

* All instructional materials, presentations and presentation materials (including recorded video and audio, PowerPoint files, prepared remarks, and slides formats), and other guidance on the use of the Student Search Service. This includes A) any notes taken during meetings that discussed the use of the Student Search Service, B) any explanations (whether internally or externally generated) of how Student Search Service works, and C) any other document that has been used to help explain the use of the Student Search Service to any party, including internal documentation, public relations materials, and executive summaries.

I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as we believe this request is in the public interest, as suggested but not stipulated by the recommendations of the Massachusetts Supervisor of Public Records. The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, processed by a representative of the news media/press and is made in the process of news gathering and not for commercial usage.

I expect the request to be filled in an accessible format, including for screen readers, which provide text-to-speech for persons unable to read print. Files that are not accessible to screen readers include, for example, .pdf image files as well as physical documents.

In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 10 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Caroline Haskins

From: University of Massachusetts (Amherst)

Subject: FW: Massachusetts Public Records Law Request: UMass Amherst Student Search Service

Email

Caroline,
I am in receipt of your records request as detailed below.

The Massachusetts Public Records Law, M.G.L. Ch. 66, § 10, along with its associated regulations, permits the University to estimate and assess the estimated cost of searching for the requested records or segregating exempt information from non-exempt information. I estimate that your request took less than four hours to complete and there will be no copying fee charged for this request. As a result there will be no fee.

Attached are records responsive to your request.

Under Chapter 66 of the General Laws, you have the right to appeal our disposition of your request to the Supervisor of Public Records, Office of the Secretary of State, pre@sec.state.ma.us<mailto:pre@sec.state.ma.us> and the right to seek judicial review of an unfavorable decision by commencing a civil action in the superior court under subsection (c) of section 10A.

Thank you,
Christine

=================================
Christine M. Wilda
Associate Chancellor for Compliance
UMASS Amherst
341 Whitmore Building
Amherst, MA 01003
Ph: 413-545-2148
Fax: 413-545-2114

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