The Michigan Freedom of Information Act ("FOIA"), MCL §15.231 was enacted in 1976
to enable members of the public to fully participate in the democratic process. The
statute provides that upon a written request sufficient for a public body (the University
is a public body) to identify the specific public record involved, a person has the
right to inspect, copy, or receive copies of certain public records, provided that
the requested record is not exempt from disclosure under the terms of the Act or any
other applicable law.
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Because FOIA allows only five (5) business days to respond to a request, it is imperative
that you take the following action immediately:
- Note the date that the request was first received by the University.
- Immediately deliver the written FOIA request to the Governmental Relations and General
Counsel’s office.
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Upon receipt of a written FOIA request, Governmental Relations and General Counsel
will assess whether or not the information requested is deemed a "public record";
whether or not the University is in possession of the "public record"; and whether
or not the requested information is protected from disclosure under any of the exemptions
enumerated under FOIA, or other applicable law.
After its review, Governmental Relations and General Counsel will respond to the requestor
by either granting the request, granting the request in part and denying the request
in part, or denying the request. Governmental Relations and General Counsel will also
notify the requestor of the requestor’s rights to seek a review or appeal of the response
in the event that the request was denied in whole or in part.
FOIA Request Form
FSU FOIA Procedures and Guidelines
Disclaimer: Materials presented here are for informational purposes only and do not
constitute legal advice from the General Counsel's office. Users are advised to contact
an attorney directly whenever considering a matter with legal implications.
