FOIA Request to Missouri Southern State University regarding recent course syllabi on August 6, 2025.
A request has been submitted to Missouri Southern State University under the Missouri Sunshine Law § 610.023 et seq., seeking access to records related to course syllabi. The request, sent by SW Missouri News, aims to obtain a complete list of syllabi for all undergraduate and graduate courses offered during the Spring 2025 semester. This includes courses across all departments, schools, and colleges, regardless of whether they were conducted in-person, online, or in hybrid formats.
The request specifically asks for relevant metadata associated with each syllabus. This includes the course title and number, instructor name, department or academic unit, and the course delivery format (online/in-person/hybrid). The information is requested in electronic format to facilitate ease of access and analysis.
SW Missouri News emphasizes its role as a media organization committed to providing comprehensive news coverage on local governmental affairs. The organization argues that access to public records is crucial for holding public institutions accountable and ensuring transparency. As such, they have requested a fee waiver based on their status as a media professional.
The requestor is affiliated with The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, a non-profit organization that assists media companies and advocacy groups in investigating governmental agencies using Freedom of Information and Sunshine Laws. More information about this coalition can be found at 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.
