Information about the University of Chicago faculty, staff, students, or other affiliates is covered by certain privacy laws, University policies, and regulatory requirements. All such requests must follow this procedure to ensure the proper protection of both those individuals and the University.
What Information Is Covered
This procedure covers information requests related to non-public information about or actions taken by any member of the University of Chicago community where such records are under the management and control of IT Services. This also covers general records when an individual is not specifically named. Examples include:
- Non-public information about an individual
- Phone records
- Network activity
- Computer activity
- Information on actions and locations
- General phone records
- Network logs
- Computer logs or login activity
- Access information
- Information from a camera or other recording device
Note: This procedure must be followed whether or not the requester is an external party (for example, law enforcement, government agency) or internal (for example, Human Resource office, business unit management, or Dean's Office).
Procedure
When a records or information request is received:
- Forward that request to security@uchicago.edu or call 773.702.2378.
- IT Security will obtain clarification of the request, if needed, and send it to the University's Office of Legal Counsel.
- Legal Counsel will evaluate the request and approve, deny, or ask for additional information. They may go through IT Security or make the request directly to the requester for the additional information.
- If the request is approved, IT Security will notify the requesting party and pass the approval to the internal group that can provide the information requested. The information provided must not be broader than the specific scope that was approved.
- If the request is not approved, IT Security will notify the requesting party.
These requests are often confidential in nature. Involved parties must disclose only the existence of the information request to those needed to follow this procedure, and then only what is needed to complete the process.
Under no circumstances may information or records be provided without Legal Counsel approval.
Contact IT Security at security@uchicago.edu with any questions about this procedure.