A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to Sewanee-The University Of The South regarding the admission records for the academic year 2024-25 on December 12, 2024.
The request was made by Volunteer State News, a media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs. In line with our commitment to transparency and public accountability, we sought information under the Tennessee Open Records Act, §10-7-503 et seq.
Specifically, we requested an electronic format list of all students admitted to the school for the academic year 2024-25. The requested data includes each student's name, home zip code or hometown, and graduated high school name.
As a media organization engaged in gathering and reporting news to the public, access to such public records is essential for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities. These include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public. Given our role in disseminating information, we believe we are eligible for a fee waiver as a media professional.
We remain committed to providing accurate and timely information that serves the interest of our readers and upholds our duty as a responsible media outlet. We will continue to pursue this request until all relevant information is obtained and shared with the public.