Springfield Standard

FOIA Request to Missouri State University regarding University Board Member Information on October 22, 2025.

A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to Missouri State University on October 22, 2025, by Springfield Standard, a media organization focused on local governmental affairs. The request seeks access to specific records under the Missouri Sunshine Law § 610.023 et seq., with a preference for receiving the information in electronic format.

The records requested include a current list of members of the University's governing board or board of trustees. This list should detail each member's full name, title or position, and term of service. Additionally, the request seeks any official headshots, portraits, or photographs maintained by the University for use in official publications, directories, or on its website. Furthermore, any official biographies or biographical summaries prepared or maintained by the University are also requested. These could include those used for press releases, board directories, or public profiles.

Springfield Standard emphasizes that access to these public records is crucial for fulfilling their professional responsibilities as members of the media. They argue that such transparency holds public institutions accountable and informs the public effectively. Given their role in disseminating information to the public, they have requested a fee waiver as media professionals.

The requestor is affiliated with The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, a non-profit organization that assists news media companies and advocacy groups in investigating governmental agencies through FOIA 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.