FOIA requests change hands at CMU

Central Michigan University has changed the way it handles Freedom of Information Act requests.

FOIA requests require full disclosure of public records unless such records are exempted under the Act. FOIA requests before were generally responded to by Barrie Wilkes, associate vice president of financial services and reporting, and Bob Martin, associate vice provost of faculty personnel services.

Now all requests are to be submitted to the office of General Counsel Manuel Rupe. Rupe said his office asked to be the FOIA designate and Interim University President Kathy Wilbur approved.

Other general counsels for 15 public universities in Michigan have a designated FOIA officer that receives FOIA requests.

“We made a decision to line up with the other public universities,” Rupe said.

Easier process

Not only is CMU following the paths of other universities, Rupe said, but having one location for FOIA requests makes it easier for those who are turning them in and receiving them.

Kathleen Kelly, legal assistant to the counsel, said this process will take less time, and will not require communicating back and forth with Wilkes and Martin.

“It makes a lot of sense,” Wilkes said, explaining how the general counsel did much of the work already.

Traditionally, Kelly handled the gathering of information and records for Wilkes and Martin.

“It’s beneficial,” Rupe said. “We’re just doing the same thing that other public universities are doing.”