University of Illinois

Illinois Freedom of Information Act

The Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) provides public access to government documents and records. As a state institution, the University of Illinois is subject to the Illinois FOIA. Requests filed under the Freedom of Information Act, response letters, and responsive documents are themselves public records.

The Illinois Attorney General office website provides details about the act. The Illinois Press Association website is another source of information.

Types of Records || Which Office? || Filing a FOIA || Pilot Program || Charges || Questions

Types of Records

The Urbana campus website provides a generic list of the types of records commonly available in university offices. Special or unique files documenting functions specific to a given office may also be available. 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. Some of the records described in this list, or certain portions of them, may be exempt from inspection and copying. Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), the university is prohibited from releasing some records. Some public records are published and may be available for purchase, or may be available under library lending procedures.

Which Office to Contact

The Office for University Relations responds to FOIA requests for central administration offices and for requests that span two or more campuses of the three-campus University of Illinois system.

If your FOIA is for information from one of the three Illinois campuses, please direct your request to the appropriate office on that campus and follow any instructions provided:

> Urbana-Champaign
> Chicago
> Springfield

Making a Request to University Relations

A request filed with University Relations must include the requestor's name, complete contact information (name, address, email or phone number), and a description of the document(s) being sought. Include the email address to which documents can be sent after payment.

The request must clearly state that you are asking for information under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act. Requests filed under the act, response letters, and responsive documents are themselves public records.

Submit your written request by mail, email, fax or in person to:

Thomas Hardy, hardyt@uillinois.edu
Executive Director, Office for University Relations
108 Henry Administration Building
Urbana, IL 61801
Fax: 217-333-5733

Pilot FOIA Website Program

On July 6, 2009, University Relations announced a pilot program to list on a public website all FOIAs filed with central administration. The office will evaluate interest in the site during the latter part of calendar 2009.

Charges

After being notified of availability, you may view responsive documents in the Office for University Relations in Chicago or in Urbana without charge.

Illinois law allows for fees for FOIA responses.

(5 ILCS 140/6) (from Ch. 116, par. 206), Sec. 6. Authority to charge fees.
(a) Each public body may charge fees reasonably calculated to reimburse its actual cost for reproducing and certifying public records and for the use, by any person, of the equipment of the public body to copy records.

A copy of the responsive documents may be obtained at the rate of twenty-five (25) cents per page. If the documents are to be sent by US mail, there is also a charge for postage. Copies of records sent electronically are provided in PDF format. Responsive documents are provided only after payment (check or cash) is received by University Relations.

Illinois law also allows for a reduced fee for FOIA responses.

(5 ILCS 140/6) (from Ch. 116, par. 206), Sec. 6. Authority to charge fees.
(b) Documents shall be furnished without charge or at a reduced charge, as determined by the public body, if the person requesting the documents states the specific purpose for the request and indicates that a waiver or reduction of the fee is in the public interest. Waiver or reduction of the fee is in the public interest if the principal purpose of the request is to access and disseminate information regarding the health, safety and welfare or the legal rights of the general public and is not for the principal purpose of personal or commercial benefit.

Requests for the reduced fee of fifteen (15) cents per page should be included in the request sent to the Executive Director. If the documents are to be sent by US mail, there is also a charge for postage. Copies of records sent electronically are provided in PDF format. Responsive documents are provided only after payment (check or cash) is received by University Relations.

Questions

Contact Thomas Hardy, Associate Director Ginny Hudak-David, or Coordinator Melanie Kuehn at 217-333-6400 with any questions.