A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to South College - Knoxville regarding the list of all students admitted to the school for the academic year 2024-25 on December 12, 2024.
The request was made by Volunteer State News, a media organization committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs. As per the Tennessee Open Records Act, §10-7-503 et seq., the organization requested this information preferably in an electronic format.
The specific details requested include each student's name, home zip code or hometown, and the name of their graduated high school. This information is vital for our ongoing coverage and analysis of educational trends and developments in the state.
As a media organization, we at Volunteer State News are involved in gathering and reporting news to the public. Access to public records such as these is essential for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities. These responsibilities include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public.
In line with our role in disseminating information, we believe we are eligible for a fee waiver as a media professional under the provisions of the Tennessee Open Records Act.
We await a positive response from South College - Knoxville as we continue our mission of delivering comprehensive news coverage that promotes transparency and accountability.