116.01 Requests for Legal Opinions from the Attorney General.

The State Law Department has ruled that all requests for opinions of the Attorney General, drafting of legal instruments, lawsuits, garnishments, and similar matters concerning institutions of the University System come to that office only upon request of the Chancellor. Therefore, any inquiry or request to be made of the State Law Department should be directed initially to the President of the institution for endorsement to the Chancellor.

116.02 Inquiries From Attorneys on University Matters

On occasion, attorneys representing students or employees sometimes contact faculty members or supervisors directly. Requests from attorneys should be referred to counsel for the University System of Georgia, who should also be provided with copies of any correspondence. Upon receipt of an inquiry from an attorney on a university matter, please contact the President's Office. When such requests come by telephone, it is advisable to limit a response to the basic facts and to refer calling parties to University System legal counsel for anything more than that. It is not advisable to talk with students or employees through their attorneys. Internal procedures are in place for dealing with complaints.

Only the President may speak for the institution, unless the President has explicitly delegated that responsibility for specific purposes.

116.03 Requests for Campus Records

Requests for information are made under the Open Records Act. Virtually all records pertaining to employees and the conduct of university business are considered public records (student records are protected, however, under Federal law). This institution is obliged to provide access to such records upon request through the Office of Institutional Research and Planning, charging for any time and copying involved.