Pursuant to the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140/), Illinois State University is committed to providing transparency through the request of public records. A public record, as outlined by the Act, “means all records, reports, forms, writings, letters, memoranda, books, papers, maps, photographs, microfilms, cards, tapes, recordings, electronic data processing records, electronic communications, recorded information and all other documentary materials pertaining to the transaction of public business, regardless of physical form or characteristics, having been prepared by or for, or having been or being used by, received by, in the possession of, or under the control of any public body” and is subject to appropriate exemptions under the Act.
The University has numerous departments throughout campus, which hold documents that are all subject to FOIA. Due to variations in record keeping practices throughout the University, it is unlikely that all offices will organize their files in the same manner. Additionally, some types of information may be available in more than one office.
Prior to submitting a formal FOIA request – Searching online records
- An appropriate first step for requesters seeking information is to visit the records management webpage. The University’s records management webpage lists categories of documents maintained by various departments on campus. Although this does not contain a comprehensive list of records, and because records retention practices provide for periodic destruction or archival transfer of information, a listed record may not be in a given office at a particular time.
- Requesters may also find many readily available documents through an online search of the University’s website or by following the links below.
Documents not found through an online search can be requested by sending an email to publicrecords@ilstu.edu.