Facts and Procedural History:

For purposes of simplification, the information presented by the person who requested this opinion and the response from the government entity with which the person disagrees are presented in summary form. Copies of the complete submissions are on file at the offices of PIPA and, with the exception of any data classified as not public, are available for public access.

On November 20, 1997, PIPA received a letter from Odessa Shonoiki. In her letter, Ms. Shonoiki requested that the Commissioner issue an opinion regarding her rights to gain access to certain data maintained by the University of Minnesota. Ms. Shonoiki enclosed copies of related correspondence.

In response to Ms. Shonoiki's request, PIPA, on behalf of the Commissioner, wrote to Tracy M. Smith, Associate General Counsel for the University. The purposes of this letter, dated November 25, 1997, were to inform Ms. Smith of Ms. Shonoiki's request, and to ask her to provide information or support for the University's position. On December 15, 1997, PIPA received a response from Susan McKinney, Responsible Authority for the University. A summary of the detailed facts of this matter follows.

In a letter to Ms. McKinney dated October 13, 1997, Ms. Shonoiki requested access to inspect the following data on all University Math Department employees:

(1) For the time period January 1, 1997 to present: name; actual gross salary; salary range; contract fees; job title; job description; education and training background; previous work experience; and payroll time sheets. (2) The existence and status of any complaints or charges against the employee, regardless of whether the complaint or charge resulted in a disciplinary action; the final disposition of any disciplinary action together with the specific reasons for the action and data documenting the basis of the action; and the terms of any agreement settling any dispute arising out of an employment relationship, including a buyout agreement.

As of November 14, 1997, the date of her opinion request, Ms. Shonoiki had not received a response from the University.

In her response to the Commissioner, Ms. McKinney wrote: [a]s responsible authority under the Data Practices Act, I took Ms. Shonoiki's request and put it in line with the other data requests that have been received. I have not heard from Ms. Shonoiki since her initial letter of request. At this time, we have not yet finalized gathering the information that Ms. Shonoiki requested. We believe that we are acting in a reasonable time period to gather this data on 209 employees.