FOIA Request to Santa Monica College regarding recent course syllabi on August 6, 2025.
A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted by the West LA Times to Santa Monica College on August 6, 2025. The request seeks access to a comprehensive list of course syllabi for all undergraduate and graduate courses offered during the Spring 2025 semester. This includes syllabi from all departments, schools, and colleges at the institution, regardless of whether the courses were conducted in-person, online, or in hybrid formats.
The request also asks for additional metadata associated with each course. Specifically, it requests details such as the course title and number, instructor name, department or academic unit, and the delivery format of each course (online/in-person/hybrid).
The West LA Times emphasizes its role in gathering and reporting news to the public as part of its professional responsibilities. The organization highlights that access to public records is crucial for holding public institutions accountable and ensuring transparency. Additionally, as a media professional, they have requested a fee waiver under their eligibility.
The requestor is affiliated with The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting media companies and advocacy groups in investigating governmental agencies through Freedom of Information and Sunshine Laws. More information about this coalition can be found on their website: 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.
