Media Relations / Public Records Requests

Media Relations

It is the responsibility of the Office of Communications, Marketing, and Public Relations to disseminate information about the College to the news media, including television stations, radio stations, and print/online publications, on local, regional, and national levels. There are two aspects to this process: the strategy of determining what, when, and to whom to communicate, and the tactics of handling that communication through the proper channels so that the receiver is clear on everything. This includes generating news coverage about the overall state of the College, and generating publicity about specific programs the College offers.

If a Delgado employee is contacted by news media regarding official business, College and LCTCS policies require notification of CMPR immediately. This is not to restrict the free and open expression of views, but to make certain that correct information is provided, and that it is provided by the most appropriate representatives of the College. For the same reasons, College employees may not contact news media with requests for coverage without notifying CMPR before the contact occurs.

The Director of Communications, Marketing, and Public Relations and the Chief Communications, Advancement, and Strategic Initiatives Officer are the only individuals at the College authorized as official spokespersons. Interacting with news media without facilitation by CMPR is a serious violation of College and LCTCS policies and may result in disciplinary action.

Please direct all inquiries from news media to Shay O'Connor at soconn@dcc.edu.

The Office of Communications, Marketing, and Public Relations relies heavily on ideas and feedback from Delgado administration, faculty and staff in order to generate story ideas. Please send information to Shay O'Connor at  soconn@dcc.edu. 

Public Records Requests

The College’s process for managing public records requests is a collaboration between the Vice Chancellor for Business and Administrative Affairs, the Chief Human Resources Officer, and the Director of Communications , Marketing, and Public Relations. The contact for all public records requests is Shay O'Connor, Director of Communications and Marketing at soconn@dcc.edu.

The process is as follows:

1. Upon receipt of a request for public records, the Director of Communications, Marketing, and Public Relations responds to the requester within 72 hours (excluding weekends and holidays) confirming receipt of the request and informing the requester that the College will review the request and will respond in a timely and appropriate manner.
2. The request is routed to the appropriate office to gather the requested information.
3. When the information has been gathered and is ready to be transmitted to the requester, the Vice Chancellor for Business and Administrative Affairs, the Chief Human Resources Officer, and the Director of Communications, Marketing, and Public Relations determine who should send the requested information.
4. Depending on the nature of the request and the requester’s affiliation (news media, private citizen, association, etc.), one of the three administrators listed in Item 3, above, will send the information to the requester.

Please note that personal identification information about college employees, including birthdates and Social Security numbers, will not be provided.

The requested information must already exist in the exact format specified in the public records request. The College will not comply with public records requests that require college personnel to compile a new document or file. Only copies of existing records will be provided.

Louisiana Public Records Law (La. R.S. 44:1, et seq.) and the Louisiana Constitution section regarding Open Meetings and Records (Article X, Section 3) apply to public records requests.