Jeb Bush college transcript

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Texas Public Information Act , I hereby request the following records:

Seeking college transcript of declared presidential candidate Jeb Bush, who claims to have graduated from the University of Texas after 2-1/2 years, in or about 1975.

The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.

In the event that fees cannot be waived, 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,

Susan Alyn

To Whom It May Concern:

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on June 18, 2015. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.

Thank you for your help.

Dear Brandi Withers:

I hope you might forward this to Annela Lopez, the Open Records Coordinator, if you are unable to answer this question:

I now see that "1973" -- and not 1975, nor 1974 -- is the year claimed by former FL Gov Jeb Bush as his year of graduation, according to his official Florida governor bio online here:

http://www.museumoffloridahistory.com/resources/collections/governors/about.cfm?id=50

"Born on February 11, 1953 in Midland Texas, Jeb Bush graduated magna cum laude from the University of Texas with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Latin American Studies. Just before graduation, in 1973, he married Columba Garnica Gallo, a native of Mexico. ..."

Since "1973" is prior to "Nov 1974" -- the date when the 1974 federal law concealing student records, FERPA, took effect -- does this mean you are actually able to produce for me the academic transcript of Jeb Bush's undergraduate years at the University of Texas?

Note I am seeing a "Nov 1974" effective date for FERPA in its legislative history here:

http://www2.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/ferpa/leg-history.html

"The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 ("FERPA"), § 513 of P.L. 93-380 (The Education Amendments of 1974), was signed into law by President Ford on August 21, 1974, with an effective date of November 19, 1974, 90 days after enactment. FERPA was enacted as a new § 438 of the General Education Provisions Act (GEPA) called "Protection of the Rights and Privacy of Parents and Students," and codified at 20 U.S.C. § 1232g. It was also commonly referred to as the "Buckley Amendment" after its principal sponsor, Senator James Buckley of New York."

Since FERPA is not retroactive to 1973, the graduation date claimed by Jeb Bush's official
bio, nor retroactive to the Aug 1974 date you cited, it seems to me the records I am seeking are actually NOT covered under FERPA.

Do you agree? If so, can you please respond to my original request by providing the requested transcript -- since this "1973" or "Aug 1974" UT transcript was created PRIOR to the actual "Nov 1974" effective date of FERPA -- and therefore was never subject to FERPA.

Your letter does not cite any other law for withholding this transcript. But, this law is actually inapplicable due to its date of implementation as a law (Nov 1974) and the date of the transcript (1973 or Aug 1974).

Thank you.

Susan Alyn

Thank you. If you are speaking with your attorney, kindly ask the attorney the following for me, if it is possible and if you don't mind:

1) Is FERPA retroactive? It went into effect in late 1974, as I have researched and understand it; consequently, any "Augus 1974" date would be earlier than FERPA went into effect.

2) Also, how does a student -- any student, whether Jeb Bush or someone else -- allegedly complete a 4 year degree in the Dept of Latin American Studies in well under 4 years without AP credits from high school and without transfer credits from another college?

It seems to me that is impossible to do, to complete this 4 year degree in substantially less time than 4 years (without transferring in any other credits). How does one do it?

It also seems to me that a student (without any AP or transfer credits) actually can not do it -- and frankly, that Jeb Bush never stayed long enough at UT to have earned the required number of credits needed for to graduate.

That is what it seems to me. Thank you in advance for your help.

I realize it does not matter much to some people if a [former] presidential candidate is a college drop-out posing as a college graduate or not -- but it seems to me an historical first as it is a new category of presidential candidates.

It used to be that presidential candidates were either college graduates or not.

But now it seems to me one can be a college drop-out pretending to be a college graduate -- provided one's father convinces the college to fabricate an academic certification. And if one's father is a USA CIA Director, it should not too difficult to intimidate college administrators to do whatever you want them to do.

That is what it seems to me, I am sorry to say, but that is what my common sense is telling me in this matter.

Susan Alyn

PS Ms. Lopez, here is some information you might want to pass along to the lawyer(s) at UT with regard to my follow-up to you:

1) The legislative history of FERPA shows it did not go into effect as a law until "Nov. 19, 1974" --
http://www2.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/ferpa/leg-history.html

"The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 ("FERPA"), § 513 of P.L. 93-380 (The Education Amendments of 1974), was signed into law by President Ford on August 21, 1974, with an effective date of November 19, 1974, 90 days after enactment."

Consequently -- unless the Nov 1974 date of this law means this law is retroactive, which is unconstitutional as I understand it, then, transcripts of any UT student with an Aug 1974 graduation date would not be covered by this law's provisions -- and the transcripts should be made public. Am I correct?
--------

2) Jeb Bush, as a presidential candidate, in his 14 minute documentary "The Jeb Story" --mailed to voters in NH -- does not claim to be a college graduate. It's a rather odd and a very material omission, which to me is saying he knows he is a college drop-out. Here is the documentary:
https://thejebstory.com/

See what he says about his life before politics at about 4 minutes in when he is seated wearing a pullover sweater. No mention of UT or college at all.

3) Jeb Bush's official bio as a former governor of Florida does mention he is a college graduate, but the sentence mentioning it makes no sense because he did not graduate when he claims to have graduated:

"Born on February 11, 1953 in Midland Texas, Jeb Bush graduated magna cum laude from the University of Texas with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Latin American Studies. Just before graduation, in 1973, he married..."

Well, UT is saying he graduate Aug 1974, but he's saying he graduated in "1973" or that he married in "1973" when he married in Feb 1974. One would think an official bio posted forever on the state's website would be correct and accurate, but I guess not. Here it is:

http://www.museumoffloridahistory.com/resources/collections/governors/about.cfm?id=50

3) I wrote to your Dept of Latin American Studies, and the undergraduate academic advsior who wrote back to me wrote exactly what I thought would be the correct answer in response to my question to her, which was this: Is it possible to obtain this 4-year bachelor's degree in Latin American Studies in less time than 4 years? She wrote back this to me:

From: Susan Alyn <susan.alyn@gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, January 4, 2016 10:41 AM
To: Gladstone, Cynthia A
Subject: re Latin American Studies

Dear Undergraduate Academic Adviser, Cynthia Gladstone:

Could you tell me if the Latin American Studies program
at the University of Texas is a 2-year or 4-year program?

If it is a 4-year program, is there any way to complete
it in less than 4 years, or in 2 years?

Kindly email. Thank you.

Susan Alyn
susan.alyn@gmail.com

-----------
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Gladstone, Cynthia A <c.gladstone@austin.utexas.edu>
Date: Mon, Jan 4, 2016 at 5:00 PM
Subject: Re: re Latin American Studies
To: Susan Alyn <susan.alyn@gmail.com>

From start to finish, if a student comes in with no AP or transfer work, it is a four-year degree.

--------------

4) In light of all the above, and the fact Jeb Bush was almost expelled from his private school for his failing academic grades -- according to the Boston Globe's Feb 2015 article --
https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/politics/2015/02/01/tumultuous-four-years-phillips-academy-helped-shape-jeb-bush/q6ccyHNOtP1n6kqDokMBfK/story.html

-- it seems to me Jeb Bush was not even qualified to be admitted to UT, and that he likely dropped out long before it was possible for him to even attempt or complete the required credit hours for a 4-year degree in Latin American Studies.

It is clear he was not bringing in any AP credits from high school or any college transfer credits.

An August 1974 graduate date is too early; he would have had to be at UT until June 1975 to graduate (since hr graduated from his priavate school in June 1971). And in light of his poor academic record, perhaps even longer if he was required to take remedial coursework.
(It should also be noted his father was on the Board of Trustees at his private high school, and it is that board that decides who gets a high school diploma.,)

Again, I realize this is all no big deal to many people -- that a college drop-out named Bush lied for 40 years to FL voters that he is a college graduate -- but it is something of importance in my view, as it is an historic first, that we now have a new category of presidential candiate:

those who drop out but lie that they graduated from college. It is interesting to note if true, and I believe it to be true.

Thank you again for your help. The truth would be a breath of fresh air with regard to anything Bush-- but I am not holding my breath for UT lawyers to come forward now and announce Jeb Bush is actually a college drop-out, no matter how evidence may exist to prove it.

PSS Also, I notice now that the "Academic Certification" UT sent to me cites an alleged graduation date of Jeb Bush for "August 22, 1974" which is one day after FERPA was signed into law on "August 21, 1974" (but was not yet effective as law until Nov 1974).

That is one amazing coincidence to me -- that the alleged 1974 graduation date of Jeb Bush would be one day after President Ford signed FERPA into law, concealing the transcripts from public view.

COuld you also ask the lawyers the following, since I have found a "Dec 1973" UT graduation date for Jeb Bush in conservative encyclopedia (before his Feb 1974 marriage) and elsewhere:

DId any other student at UT allegedly graduate on August 22, 1974? Or is Jeb Bush in a class by himself?

I do not mean for this query or any query about this matter to sound rude, and I apologize in advance if it sounds rude. Fraud is not a polite matter; and, again, my common sense tells me: there is fraud here at UT with respect to Jeb Bush, as it is impossible for him to have actually earned enough credits from UT for this 4-year degree by Dec 1973 or Aug 1974, or whatever other date UT or Jeb Bush may claim. It seems to me he separated early from UT because: he dropped out.

Ms. Lopez, Just to briefly summarize my position:

When your university claims in a certified academic certification document that the date of a student's graduation is:

"August 22, 1974"

-- and the new federal FERPA law (signed into law on Aug 21, 1974) does not actually take effect until months later --

on "November 19, 1974"

then:

your university can not legally cite FERPA as a basis for withholding that student's transcript from public view, as it is in fact a public record.

Regardless of how incomplete, inaccurate, or how much of a forgery that academic transcript may be, I think you have to release it in this particular instance.

Jeb Bush has won votes, won elections, raised money, held office, and tried to become president based in part on an official bio that claims he is a college graduate when in fact I believe he is not, and he knows it.

The only reason he has gotten away with this lie for so long is because he is a member of a political dynasty family that does not play by the rules of the law nor care about the voters/ the little people of this country.

And I believe there are members of the media who well know this, and college administrators who well know this, but some may be intimidated and afraid of revealing the truth, because GH Bush was CIA Director in addition to being a president.

I am sorry, but I am just asking for the truth and adherence to the law; I know that is A LOT TO ASK with respect to Jeb Bush and his father GH Bush. But I am still asking anyway.

Voters should not have to deal with a category of presidential candidates or governor candidates consisting of those politicians who dropped out of college but pose as college graduates anyway. That is fraud -- and should disqualify a candidate in any election.

Thank you again for your help.

Susan Alyn

Dear Bob Davis, Open Records Coordinator:

Thank you for your response.

With respect to FERPA, I can not comment further as I am not a lawyer.

Regarding how a student completes a 4-year bachelor's degree from UT Dept of Latin American Studies in less time than 4 years, what you are saying is very different than what your university's Dept of Latin American Studies has told me.

According to that department's undergraduate academic adviser, it is impossible to complete this particular UT degree in less than 4 years unless the student was transferring into UT credits from another college or from Advanced Placement classes in high school (and, no such credits exist for Jeb Bush).

I suspect that is due to the way program is structured in its curriculum, as well as the fact UT is not a competency based system but rather a time-based system on the Carnegie nit of measurement. In addition, not all degree programs offer summer courses, and not all courses are offered in fall or spring when a sequence or pre-requsite coursework is necessary.

Here again is what how UT's undergraduate academic adviser in Latin American Studies responded when I asked if it is possible for a student to complete this 4-year degree in less time than 4 years:

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Gladstone, Cynthia A <c.gladstone@austin.utexas.edu>
Date: Mon, Jan 4, 2016 at 5:00 PM
Subject: Re: re Latin American Studies
To: Susan Alyn <susan.alyn@gmail.com>

From start to finish, if a student comes in with no AP or transfer work, it is a four-year degree.
-----------

As I am someone who has worked and taught in higher ed, her response is exactly what I thought, too.

This leads me to believe Jeb Bush would have been required to stay at the university until at least June 1975 if he had actually attempted and completed all the coursework required to this degree.

Yet, UT records department is telling me he separated from the university in "August 1974" and specifically on Aug. 22, 1974.

I realize Jeb Bush's father was CIA DIrector in 1975, so if his son was an academic failure who dropped out of UT --- and this situation was not of the liking of CIA Director GH, Bush, CIA DIrector, it seems to me unlikely any UT college administrator would refuse any requests from this particular parent as to how his son's college career is portrayed in the future. That is my opinion. that a tremendous imbalance of power exists in that particular parent-school relationship, and that is why UT records claims Jeb Bush graduated earlier than 4 years when the Latin American Studies Department says that is not possible (unless college credits were transferred in, and again, such were not in Jeb Bush's case, as he was also an academic failure in his private high school, according to the Boston Globe's 2015 newspaper report.)

I am entitled to my opinion.

Thank you again for writing.

Susan Alyn

PS By the way, my apologies for the typos above; it is hard to type in this little box here.

If it is not too much trouble, I would also like a response to the question I had asked, which is this:

Did any other student graduate from UT on UT's alleged graduation date for Jeb Bush, which is "August 22, 1974" (again, according to UT records department)?

Or is he the only one?

My understanding is UT no longer has August graduations. When did that stop?

Thank you.

I do not see any answers to my questions in my last follow-up.

My understanding from reading the FERPA law is that a subpoena can be obtained under FERPA, and the actual transcript is then required to be provided:

http://www2.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/ferpa/index.html

Specifically:

"Generally, schools must have written permission from the parent or eligible student in order to release any information from a student's education record. However, FERPA allows schools to disclose those records, without consent, to the following parties or under the following conditions (34 CFR § 99.31):

To comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena; ..."

----------------

As I did not request any "Academic Certification" document, but requested the actual transcript (thinking it could be provided because Jeb Bush was at that time a presidential candidate), I believe the correct final status of this request is therefore:

REJECTED.

Thank you anyway. I personally believe a subpoena would result in the discovery that Jeb Bush's actual transcript is "lost" or "can't be located" or some such excuse because:

if he was such a great student at UT, why would he fail to publicly disclose his transcript as a candidate for governor or president?

Jeb Bush has never publicly released his college transcript (unlike his brother, George W Bush, who did release his own Yale transcript:
http://2004.georgewbush.org/bios/yale-transcript.asp )

It seems to me if the transcript of Jeb Bush still existed at UT, and if it was so spectacular, then Jeb Bush would have gladly and proudly publicly released it the first (o 2nd or 3rd or 4th) time he ran for office.

Jeb Bush's conduct -- of not releasing his allegedly super spectacular college transcript, indicates to me, in my opinion, that what happened is this: Jeb Bush's actual college transcript was incomplete (because he dropped out), he failed every course, and his father then may have the document destroyed after the federal FERPA law was passed.

Otherwise, it seems to me: Jeb Bush, the "Education Governor," who touted a claim for transparency as a presidential candidate, would have already publicly released his college transcript. Instead, the transparent Education Governor kept his college transcript hidden from public view, and he publicly released his guacamole recipe.

Thank you anyway. I would like to see someone get a subpoena and request the transcript, to see what, if anything, exists in Jeb Bush's UT transcript file.

Dear Bob Davis:

As a follow-up to your email dated 3/25 -- I did more research, and I noticed the elimination of an August graduation happened in 2010, at the University of Texas at Arlington -- not Austin. My error, and my apologies.

The "rejected" status of my request has now been changed by MuckRock to "no responsive documents" as no transcript was provided, and that is the document I requested; so I hope this is more in line with how you see the situation, as MuckRock had no problem with this change, and I am not objecting.

I notice you did not attempt to explain why the academic adviser of the unvergraduate Latin American Studies department is telling me in writing, on the email from her I posted, that this degree can not be completed in less than 4 years, as it is a 4 year degree from "start to finish" (unless the student is transferring in AP credits or transfer work),

That alone tells me: June 1975 would be the earliest possible graduation date for Jeb Bush, since he entered in Sept 1971 without any transfer credits and without any AP credits.

He clearly had no AP credits, based on the Boston Globe article reporting he was almost expelled for low grades from his private school, and apparently made "honor roll" only one time out of 12, in his last semester.

I don't believe he transferred any college credits in from elsewhere since he began at UT in Sept 1971 and left Phillips Academy in June 1971.

So, why your records department is claiming an "August 1974" graduation date remains a mystery to me.

In all honesty, I will guess there is 1) no application ever submitted by Jeb Bush to be a freshman at UT, and 2) no transcript now on file for Jeb Bush at UT. That is what it seems to me in my opinion based on many factors not mentioned here.

A subpoena, if issued, I believe, would only result in an excuse that the transcript can not be found, or, a document which is newly created and not the original transcript.

I would like to request a subpoena from the court. I may try to do this.

But as an educator, and a former Florida voter, I think Jeb Bush had a moral responsibility, which he failed miserably, to inform voters if he was actually a college drop-out or not prior to asking voters to vote for him.

With some voters it may not have mattered, as evidenced by WI Gov Scott Walker's election as governor after Walker disclosed he is a college drop-out.

With other voters, it may have greatly mattered, that Jeb Bush was not eligible for college admission, or dropped-out.

I would appreciate if you would address the current discrepancy between what your records department disclosed in its "Academic Certification" -- an August 1974 graduation date for Jeb Bush -- and Cynthia Gladstone's email to me stating it takes "4 years" from "start to finish" to obtain an undergraduate degree in Latin American Studies (unless a student has AP or transfer credit).

I realize it is possible to "accelerate" a degree if a university has such a policy for its curriculum to do so, such as Yale University, which allows an undergrad to accelerate and graduate in only six terms instead of eight semesters.

But I honestly do not think it possible for Jeb Bush or any other student to "squeeze" a four year degree into only "2 years", or "2-1/2" or "less than 3" when your undergrad adviser for that program claims it is a 4-year degree from "start to finish."

Schools design their curriculums however they wish, and if 4 years is required, then 4 years is required.,

I note that Ms. Gladstone has a Phd according to information I recently learned, so I expect she would know what she is talking about. Why she and your records department are not both on the same page is of concern to me and is troubling to me. I feel that Jeb Bush has lied about his actual status, which is drop-out, and lie, and get the transcript concealed and/or destroyed. I am sorry, but that is what I feel. I have a right to believe what I do, and to feel what I do, especially in light of the discrepancy between the two different university department.

I would have liked to know if Jeb Bush was a college graduate prior to his 1994, 1998, and 2000 campaigns as Florida governor, and I believe voters in this country would have liked to know in his 2016 campaign as president -- and, I don't think he wants to talk about it.

The "Jeb Story" documentary on him produced in Dec 2015 only mentioned he was a senior in high school. Based on that video documentary, created by an ad man who worked on his last two FL campaigns, Jeb Bush never applied nor set foot in any institution of higher ed prior to him getting married, working, moving to Miami, and entering politics.

I just don't think it is way too much to ask that a candidate honestly disclose his highest level of education. It may be that a senior in high school who was not eligible even for a high school diploma is in fact his highest level of education.

I notice he has never disclosed a college transcript to voters in his 4 campaigns, unlike his brother, who did disclose a Yale transcript.

Again, any explanation you have as to why your two departments can't agree on how long it takes to obtain this 4-year Bachelors degree from the undergraduate dept of Latin American Studies would be appreciated.

Thank you.

PS From more than a decade of media:

-- “ [Jeb] chose the University of Texas and then squeezed a four-year program into 2 years, graduating Phi Beta Kappa, just to be with her"

From: Sun Sentinel,“First Lady, First Steps” by Linda Kleindienst, Tallahassee Bureau Chief,
February 18, 1999

http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1999-02-18/lifestyle/9902170447_1_columba-bush-columba-garnicagallo-
jeb-bush
-------

-- “[Jeb] graduated with a degree in Latin American Studies in just 2 1/2 years and they married soon after at UT-Austin Catholic Center in 1974"

From: POLITICO Magazine, “How Jeb Bush Schooled
the Florida Press,” by S.V. Date, April 2014

http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/04/jeb-bush-reporters-florida-schooled-the-press-
117004
-----------

“Jeb Bush raced through the University of Texas in two and half (years)"

From: The New York Times, "Jeb Bush Gives Party Something Something To Think About,”
by Michael Barbaro, May 24, 2014

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/25/us/politics/jeb-bush-gives-party-something-to-think-about.html?_r=0

and many more.

It seems to me we voters are rendered powerless when college degrees and educational records can be fabricated by the press, and when lies can appear as truth just because: the press is willing to repeat the same lie for decades.

I wish the Boston Globe had published its investigative article prior to 1994 when Jeb Bush first ran for governor. Then I would have known: this person was not an AP student in high school, and his "squeezing" of a 3 year program into "2 years" did not result from a slew of AP classes.

Instead, it takes 21 years to discover that fact.

From the Boston Globe, Feb 2015:

“ Bush had enough problems trying to pass his courses. ...The student who once nearly flunked out said he made the honor roll in the final trimester of his senior year. ... He went instead to the University of Texas in Austin, majored in Latin American studies, graduated in an unusually speedy 2½ years, and married Columba. ..."

From: The Boston Globe, “Jeb Bush shaped by troubled Phillips Academy years,”
by Michael Kranish, Feb 1, 2015

https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/politics/2015/02/01/tumultuous-four-years-phillips-academy-helped-shape-jeb-bush/q6ccyHNOtP1n6kqDokMBfK/story.html
------

PSS I meant to type:

squeezing of a "4" year program into "2 years"

Dear Bob Davis, Open Records Coordinator:

I am trying herein to very briefly summarize this situation, as it would quite literally take a book to discuss everything, and I realize the purpose of requesting public records -- even in error as I did (thinking that a presidential candidacy would make the transcript available and public) -- is not to waste anyone's time by engaging in discussion.

Under FERPA, there are no responsive documents to my request. I understand that now.

But, what I still don't understand is this: How is it possible for the university's records department to offer to me, and provide to me, without me requesting such, an "Academic Certification" claiming former student Jeb Bush graduated in "August 1974" with a Bachelor's from the Dept of Latin American Studies, when the university's Dept of Latin American Studies provided me with information that clearly indicates to me the earliest possible date Jeb Bush could gave graduated is four years down the road, which was June 1975?

That is the question I would like answered, if it is possible for you to answer.

I think the answer is this: the academic department's undergraduate adviser emailed to me the correct answer -- but your records department is in error.

Your records department should show not a graduation, but a withdrawal, from the university, in December 1973, on its "Academic Certification" because that is when I believe Jeb Bush dropped out.

That is why he separated early from the university, prior to the earliest possible date of potential graduation from that department (June 1975). He didn't stay at the university a long enough time to attempt or complete all the coursework necessary for a 4-year Bachelor's degree.

That is what I believe: your university's records department is, shall we say, in "error."

Could you explain why I am wrong, if that's what you believe?

Just because students in other departments, with other curricula elsewhere, can graduate early doesn't mean that a particular academic department provides for a "2" or "2-1/2" or "less than 3" year option for its undergrads. They don't, according to that undergrad department of Latin American Studies.

It seems to me either the records of the university would show a June 1975 -- not "August 1974" -- graduation date if such a graduation had actually happened, instead of a withdrawal by said former student Jeb Bush.

Again, please explain why I am wrong.

I did not read this entire thread again, but as I recall you jumped into this discussion in the midst of it, and said you are a lawyer -- and the new records clerk.

Oddly enough, when I request public records, it seems the agency will suddenly hire someone new to be in charge of records -- a lawyer -- when the matter is really, what some might call, obviously corrupt.

Is there an error in your university's records? Or is it something some would call corrupt?

How do you account for the difference in your university's actual academic department policy for that particular department -- Latin American Studies undergraduate -- and the fact the records graduation date of "August 1974" do not reflect nor support such academic department's policy and curricula
as detailed to me in an email when I asked if it is possible to obtain this degree in less time than 4 years? "From start to finish" it takes "4 years" (unless there are AP or transfer credits).
But Jeb Bush left in less time than 4 years, and clearly he was not an AP student in high school, and he apparently had no transfer credits from another college for 1-/2 years of credit since he began in Sept 1971 following a June 1971 departure from Andover.

It simply does not make sense what you are telling me in the records. Perhaps you could check to see if there is an error in your records date of "August 1974." Thank you, and I apologize for all this correspondence. I did not expect it. I actually thought the transcript would be forthcoming; I now realize it won't be, and, I no longer even think there is one.

Again, my apologies for all this discussion. If you don't think there is any error in your records, I would simply add: I still do think there is an error in your records, for many reasons I did not mention here.

Dear Mr. Davis:

I am sorry if you feel personally offended by anything I wrote; my intent was not to offend you.

Your answer does not address the actual questions in my email to Dr. Cynthia Gladstone, the undergraduate academic adviser of Latin American Studies at UT.

Here is the entire email I sent to her with my questions:

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Susan Alyn <susan.alyn@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Jan 4, 2016 at 11:41 AM
Subject: re Latin American Studies
To: cgladstone@mail.utexas.edu

Dear Undergraduate Academic Adviser, Cynthia Gladstone:

Could you tell me if the Latin American Studies program at the University of Texas is a 2-year or 4-year program?

If it is a 4-year program, is there any way to complete it in less than 4 years, or in 2 years?

Kindly email. Thank you.

Susan Alyn
susan.alyn@gmail.com

---------

Note that I wrote "If it is a 4-year program, is there any way to complete it in less than 4 years, or in 2 years?"

Her answer, in short, was NO.

Here again is her answer to my above email:

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Gladstone, Cynthia A <c.gladstone@austin.utexas.edu>
Date: Mon, Jan 4, 2016 at 5:00 PM
Subject: Re: re Latin American Studies
To: Susan Alyn <susan.alyn@gmail.com>

From start to finish, if a student comes in with no AP or transfer work, it is a four-year degree.

--------------------

I don't think it is fair for you to misrepresent what I wrote by now writing:

"She understood your question as asking whether the degree at issue was a four- or two-year degree. In that context, it is a four-year degree."

Again, I also asked specifically if there is any way for a student to complete this 4-year program in less time than 4 years. (She explained how that is possible - through AP credits and transfer credits -- but otherwise, not.)

Note that she did not say "enterprising students" can design their own curriculum and ignore the time requirements existing at the university because UT is on a Carnegie Unit of Measurement -- which means a student at UT, like many other universities in this country, must complete a certain number of hours in a classroom attending classes, as well as on homework, in order to earn the credit, in addition to other requirements.

There are only so many hours in a day, Mr. Davis. Enterprising students, no matter how enterprising they may be, can not extend the day nor shorten the legal requirements imposed on UT by the Carnegie Unit of Measurement under which UT operates.

That is why a real genius, like Bill Gates, drops out of college - because he decides he no longer wants to spend the amount of time required by his university's Carnegie Unit of Measurement system either, as he has better things to do with his TIME. I believe Mr. Gates is enterprising. But he is honest about how much time exists in a day and how much time is required to actually spend in a class or on homework had he chosen to continue a degree. He dropped out.

How quickly you found a program after writing that none is available.

UT's Latin American Studies undergrad program requires core courses in the first two years and then upper level courses in the second two years.

An enterprising student is not the one deciding which courses are offered which semester, or how to extend the day beyond 24 hours, no matter how enterprising. He or she would drop out, as Mr. Gates did, if they decided they had better ways to spend their time than pursuing a degree.

Sometimes people drop out to get married.

There is no shame or disqualification to anyone who drops out of college in my view.

Thank you for your responses.

I believe the correct appropriate final status of this matter is NO RESPONSIVE DOCUMENTS as only in a court of law can Mr. Bush's transcript or lack thereof be offered at this point.

I did not email Mr. Bush and ask him to provide me with his consent, because I already have formed my professional and personal opinon as to what happened here. That is why I am writing a book about it.

PS I meant to type: I did not ask Mr. Bush to provide me with his consent to release his transcript, because ...

Again, thank you for taking the time to respond, and I hope you no longer feel offended.

I am college educated, and I have also worked and taught in higher education.

I am confident in my professional and personal opinion in this matter.

Again, thank you for your time.

By the way, you repeatedly claim I am "speaking" with people there when in fact - I have never spoken with anyone, nor with you (yet you wrote: "Since we last spoke...").

I not recall speaking with anyone -- as I made this request via MuckRock and there was no reason to "speak" with anyone.

To ensure there is no further need for you or me to respond, I will now withdraw this public records request for a transcript.

Note that I have not asked you to explain why you felt the need to publicly announce you are a "lawyer."

Or why you, who must publicly announce you are a lawyer, are working in a position typically paid far less than a lawyer, as a Records Clerk.

Good bye. And good day.

PS Since I never have spoken with you,
I looked you up on the directory online and this is what I found, which I find a very odd listing for a records clerk:

http://www.utexas.edu/directory/index.php?q=Robert+Davis&scope=all&i=7

Directory Information for Robert S Davis

Name: Robert S Davis, JD
Email: bob.davis@austin.utexas.edu
UT EID: davisrs
Job Title: Open Records Coordinator
Department: Office of the Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer
Office Phone: +1 512 471 3567
Office Location: MAI 110
Office Address: The University of Texas at Austin
Financial Affairs-VP and CFO
PO Box 8179
Austin, TX 78713
Campus Mail Code: G4900
Business Card: vCard

PSS Your background as a lawyer, office location in Financial Affairs, and title as "Open Records Coordinator" do not seem to match the typical job listing for such a position, and that is why it seems "odd" to me.

For the job in which you suddenly announced your arrival in the midst of this thread on MuckRock concerning Jeb Bush and a college transcript, here is an actual job posting online now:

http://www.indeed.com/cmp/Career-Point-College/jobs/Record-Coordinator-1bcf37a58fdcb6d0?sjdu=QwrRXKrqZ3CNX5W-O9jEvdGHvYnqBmyb3ECPRmb_amq4fc5fJFsNw3hJ7c3Z0NeMQFI4aO2tbmgesBjtSFNd4g

Records Coordinator
Career Point College 48 reviews - Austin, TX

The Records Coordinator reports to the Registrar.

The Records Coordinator implements the College’s policies and procedures as set forth herein and in the Employee Handbook. The Records Coordinator also implements the Records Coordinator’s Tasks and Duties herein attached.

Position Qualifications
Must possess the appropriate credentials required by Federal, State, and Accrediting bodies.
Must possess a thorough and exacting knowledge germane to his/her field.
Must possess high levels of integrity and honesty.
Must possess and exhibit the behavior skills accepted by the business community.

Requirements
To perform this function, an individual must be able to complete all areas outlined for this position in a satisfactory manner. Listed below are areas of knowledge, skills and/or abilities necessary to meet the minimum job requirements. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

Education: Continuing education is not required; however, is helpful. The Records Coordinator should be willing to participate in continuing education courses and seminars to sharpen his/her skills and eliminate any deficiencies.

Experience: The Records Coordinator should have knowledge and/or experience in computer skills, clerical and administrative procedures, filing and record keeping, and data entry.

Skills and Knowledge: The Records Coordinator must possess the skills and knowledge of clerical and administrative practices required to coordinate a central records system. Considerable knowledge of the regulations and procedure of the department to which assigned. Ability to establish and maintain clerical re-cords. Prepare reports and personnel related records and social skills.

Physical: The physical demands described herein are representative of those that must be met by the employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position.

Body Positions: This job requires sitting up ¾ of the time and moving about throughout the College ¼ of the time. Body movements of turning the head and torso, bending, reaching and flexing the arms are required under 1/3 of the time. Bending the wrist and use of the hands, fingers to grasp, handle or feel objects, and/or operate computer equipment and peripherals are required at least ½ of the time.

Body Senses: The Records Coordinator must have command of all five senses: Taste, Hear, Smell, Sight, and Touch. Vision must also be sufficient to shift in focus from equipment to close forms and back as necessary. The Records Coordinator must speak well enough to represent the College’s programs in a favorable manner.

Strength: The Records Coordinator must be able to lift 10 pounds most of the time and 15 pounds some of the time.

Mental: The Records Coordinator must be able to perform routine business mathematical calculations, understand standard analysis, and read, write and communicate in English.

Working Conditions: This position will be working primarily indoors in a climate controlled, smoke-free office environment but it also requires that the Records Coordinator move about throughout business offices and in and out of connecting buildings. The movement will cause the employee to encounter varying temperatures. Work will also involve a variety of meeting situations. The noise level in the work environment is moderate.The Records Coordinator will be expected to work from (6) to (8) hours during the workday with occasional Saturday work, as well as, early or late weekday meetings with staff personnel as needed.

Job Type: Full-time

Required experience:

Clerical: 1 year

Required education:

High school or equivalent