FOIA Request to SUNY At Fredonia regarding recent course syllabi on August 6, 2025.
A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to the State University of New York at Fredonia by West NY News, a media organization focused on local governmental affairs. The request seeks access to a comprehensive list of course syllabi for all undergraduate and graduate courses offered during the Spring 2025 academic semester. This includes syllabi from all departments, schools, and colleges, irrespective of whether the courses were conducted in-person, online, or in hybrid formats.
The request also specifies the inclusion of relevant metadata such as course titles and numbers, instructor names, department or academic unit affiliations, and course delivery formats. This information is sought under the New York Freedom of Information Law with a preference for receiving it in electronic format.
West NY News has highlighted its role in holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public as part of its journalistic duties. They have requested a fee waiver citing their status as a media professional organization. The requester is affiliated with The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, which supports media companies and advocacy groups in investigating governmental agencies through Freedom of Information laws.
We look forward to receiving this information in an electronic format as it will greatly aid in our reporting efforts. As always, we remain open for any questions or clarifications regarding this request.
