FOIA Request to University of California Santa Barbara regarding recent course syllabi on August 6, 2025.
Golden State Today, a media organization focused on providing comprehensive news coverage on local governmental affairs, has submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the University of California Santa Barbara. The request seeks access to a complete list of course syllabi for all undergraduate and graduate courses offered during the Spring 2025 academic semester. This includes syllabi for courses across all departments, schools, and colleges, regardless of whether they were offered in-person, online, or in hybrid formats.
The request specifically asks for relevant metadata associated with each course syllabus. This includes the course title and number, instructor name, department or academic unit, and the course delivery format (online/in-person/hybrid). The request emphasizes the need for these records in an electronic format.
As part of their professional responsibilities in gathering and reporting news to the public, Golden State Today asserts that access to such public records is essential. They highlight their role in holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public. Furthermore, they have requested a fee waiver based on their status as a media organization.
The requester is affiliated with The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, a non-profit organization that assists media companies and advocacy groups in investigating governmental agencies through Freedom of Information and Sunshine Laws. More information 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.
