North STL News

FOIA Request to Northwest Missouri State University regarding recent course syllabi on August 6, 2025.

A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to Northwest Missouri State University by North STL News, a media organization focused on local governmental affairs. The request, sent on August 6, 2025, seeks access to a comprehensive list of course syllabi for all undergraduate and graduate courses offered during the Spring 2025 semester. This includes syllabi from all departments, schools, and colleges at the university, regardless of whether the courses were conducted in-person, online, or through hybrid formats.

The request specifically asks for additional metadata associated with each course syllabus. This includes details such as the course title and number, instructor name, department or academic unit responsible for the course, and the format in which the course was delivered (online/in-person/hybrid).

The requestor emphasized their role as a member of the media involved in gathering and reporting news to the public. They highlighted that access to these public records is crucial for fulfilling their professional responsibilities of holding public institutions accountable and ensuring transparency. Additionally, they have requested a fee waiver based on their status as a media professional.

North STL News is affiliated with The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, a non-profit organization dedicated to investigating state and federal governmental agencies through FOIA requests and Sunshine Laws. More information about this coalition can be found on their website: https://stopsecrecy.org/about/.

Our team will continue to keep you updated as we gather and report news related to this request and other matters of public interest. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or need further clarification regarding this matter.