UP Gazette

FOIA Request to Northern Michigan University regarding recent course syllabi on August 6, 2025.

A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted by UP Gazette to Northern Michigan University seeking access to course syllabi for all undergraduate and graduate courses offered during the Spring 2025 semester. The request aims to obtain a comprehensive list of syllabi from all departments, schools, and colleges, regardless of whether the courses were conducted in-person, online, or in hybrid formats.

The request specifically asks for any relevant metadata associated with these syllabi. This includes details such as the course title and number, instructor name, department or academic unit, and the format in which the course was delivered (online/in-person/hybrid).

As part of their commitment to providing transparency and holding public institutions accountable, UP Gazette has requested this information under the Michigan Freedom of Information Act § 15.231 et seq., with a preference for receiving it in electronic format. They have also sought a fee waiver due to their role as a media organization involved in gathering and reporting news to the public.

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 through FOIA requests. More information about this coalition can be found on their website 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.