FOIA Request to Michigan State University regarding recent course syllabi on August 6, 2025.
Capitol News, a media organization focused on local governmental affairs, has submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to Michigan State University. 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 within the university, regardless of whether the courses were conducted in-person, online, or through hybrid formats.
The request also asks for additional metadata related to each course. Specifically, Capitol News is seeking information on the course title and number, instructor name, department or academic unit affiliation, and the delivery format of each course. The requested information is preferred in an electronic format to facilitate easier analysis and reporting.
In their communication with Michigan State University, Capitol News emphasized their role in providing transparency and holding public institutions accountable by disseminating information to the public. They have also requested a fee waiver for accessing these records as they are a media organization engaged in news gathering.
The requestor is affiliated with The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy—a non-profit organization that supports media companies and advocacy groups in investigating governmental agencies through FOIA requests. More details 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.
