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Media Tips for Students
Tips on how to make you feel more comfortable working with media

G eneral Information
Release of Student Information
Media Access to Residence Halls

GENERAL INFORMATION | back to top

The University of Minnesota-Twin Cities campus is one of the few urban public research universities in the country. The campus is located in the heart of the nation's 14th largest media market which is home to a number of highly competitive news outlets--television stations, radio stations, newspapers and magazines. As a result, University of Minnesota students may be the focus of media stories or be asked to comment on current events and newsworthy topics.

Media may stop you on campus, at a local coffee shop or outside of a residence hall and request an interview. For tips on talking to the media go to our media guide. Below are tips and policies that might make you feel more comfortable working with the media:

It is your choice whether to do an interview. Being on television or in the newspaper can be fun and it is an opportunity to express your opinion or that of your peers. However, you are not obligated to talk to the media. Even if you have already started an interview, you can stop it at any time.
You may ask reporters for identification.
Media are not allowed in residence halls or other University owned and operated housing without an escort. Only students and residence hall staff, or others assigned by the Office of Housing and Residential Life, may act as media escorts in the halls. If you see members of the media in a hall without an escort, let your hall director or community advisor know.
Your room number is private information and will not be given out to the media. Unless you have suppressed your contact information with the Office of the Registrar, your phone numbers are considered public and may be given out at the request of a media outlet.
See release of student information to find out what information is generally public under state and federal laws. If you wish to keep some information private, you can supress the information through the Office of the Registrar.
If you agree to do an interview with the media, you must meet them at the information desk in the lobby.

If you have a complaint or problem with the media in a residence hall, call the Office of Housing and Residential Life, (612) 624-0453. If you have a more general media question call the University News Service at (621) 624-5551.

RELEASE OF STUDENT INFORMATION | back to top

Federal law, state law and University of Minnesota Board of Regents policy govern access to student records. Under these laws and policies, some information is considered public and some is considered private. However, it is possible for students to suppress some or all public information by requesting a nondisclosure.

All media requests for information must go through the News Service through a Data Practice Request.

In most cases, the following student information is public:

Name
Address
E-mail Address
Telephone number
Major/Minor
Adviser
College
Academic Awards and honors

In most cases, the following student information is private:

ID and Social Security number
Birth date
Gender
Grades
Courses taken
Schedule
Test scores
Advising records
Educational services received
Disciplinary actions
Photographs
International status

If there is not a nondisclosure request on file with the Registrar regarding a particular student's information, refer to the Board of Regent's policy on student records, which can be found on the university Web site here.

MEDIA ACCESS TO RESIDENCE HALLS | back to top

Permission is required for media to access University of Minnesota housing, including campus residence halls and off-campus student and family housing. Media must be escorted by Housing and Residential Life or News Service staff, or a resident, at all times while in University housing facilities. Unescorted media will be asked to leave.

Escorted media may film in, or report from, the common areas (lounges, dining areas, corridors) of residence halls.

Media must have permission from the occupant of individual living quarters to enter, report about, or film that space.

Media may film or solicit interviews on the public sidewalks or common areas outside of residence halls and apartments. In some special situations, media access to these areas may be limited to protect privacy, health, or safety.

To obtain permission to enter a residence hall, the media must call the News Service during business hours, Monday–Friday. After hours or on weekends, media can page the News Service at (612) 880-3056 or contact the residence hall manager. Individual hall telephone listings are at www.umn.edu/housing. For other information about residence halls, contact Housing & Residential Life at (612) 624-2994.

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