Unlock the power of effective response to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests with our training session, brought to you by the School of Social Work's Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in partnership with the Office of Associate Dean for Research.
This event is tailored to faculty, educators, and program administrators, offering essential insights into managing FOIA requests, understanding exemptions, and safeguarding vital information. FOIA requests are essential tools for ensuring transparency and accountability in governmental agencies, including educational institutions like ours. Whether you're engaged in groundbreaking research, grant writing, curriculum development, teaching in the classroom, or program administration, this event is designed with you in mind.
Date: Monday, April 29
Time: 12-2 p.m.
Location: SSW Room 2E29
To register for this training, please click here.
Here is what will be covered at the event:
1. Faculty Engaged in Research and Grant Writing:
Discover actionable strategies for responding to FOIA requests effectively, ensuring compliance while safeguarding information pertinent to your research and grant-writing endeavors. Learn how to navigate FOIA exemptions and protect sensitive data, empowering you to uphold transparency and integrity in your work.
2. Educators in the Classroom:
Gain valuable insights into managing FOIA requests within an educational context, including strategies for incorporating transparency and accountability into your classroom practices.
3. Program Administrators:
Equip yourself with the tools and knowledge needed to manage FOIA requests efficiently and responsibly within your programs. Understand the implications of FOIA exemptions and learn best practices for safeguarding necessary information while upholding transparency and confidentiality.
Here's a brief overview of FOIA and its impact on higher education:
- The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) is a federal law that grants individuals the right to access records from any federal agency. It aims to promote transparency and accountability in government by providing citizens with the opportunity to request and obtain information held by public entities.
- In the context of higher education institutions, such as universities and colleges, FOIA applies to information held by the institution that is not protected by specific exemptions outlined in the law. This includes records related to administrative decisions, financial transactions, research activities, and more.
- Faculty and staff members in higher education may receive FOIA requests seeking access to various types of information, including research data, correspondence, grant proposals, and administrative documents. These requests may come from journalists, researchers, advocacy groups, or members of the public seeking information on a particular topic.
- In recent years, there has been a noticeable increase in FOIA requests related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts within higher education institutions. This trend reflects a growing interest from the public, advocacy groups, and media outlets in understanding how colleges and universities are addressing DEI issues on their campuses.
- FOIA requests related to DEI may seek access to a wide range of information, including demographic data, research, grants, policies and procedures, budget and expenditure data, and training materials and curriculum.