Illinois Freedom of Information Act
All Freedom of Information requests to the University of Illinois System or any of the three universities are processed by External Relations and Communications at the System Offices.
The Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) provides public access to government documents and records. The Illinois FOIA notes that it is "the public policy of the State of Illinois that all persons are entitled to full and complete information regarding the affairs of government and the official acts and policies of those who represent them as public officials and public employees consistent with the terms of this Act. Such access is necessary to enable the people to fulfill their duties of discussing public issues fully and freely, making informed political judgments and monitoring government to ensure that it is being conducted in the public interest."
The Illinois Attorney General office website provides details about the act. The site includes an FAQ (frequently asked questions) document written by staff in the AG's office for individuals employed by "public bodies" such as the University of Illinois.
As a state institution, the University of Illinois System is subject to the Illinois FOIA. A log of all FOIA requests is maintained by the Office of External Relations and Communications, which manages the FOIA process for the U of I System. Requests filed under the Freedom of Information Act, response letters, and responsive documents are themselves public records and subject to FOIA requests.
The University of Illinois System provides documents and information without the requirement of filing a FOIA request. The FOIA process can be complicated and information can be provided without that step. However, some requestors -- or the U of I -- may determine that a formal request for records under FOIA is appropriate. In those instances, a thorough reading of the pages listed below will provide helpful information about the process, contact names, and how a request is handled.
The University of Illinois System is committed to providing information in an accessible way, and therefore committed to assuring members of the public that are seeking information have access to that information. If you have a disability and the format of any record provided in response to a FOIA request interferes with your ability to access that information, please contact our office at 217-333-6400 or foia@uillinois.edu. To enable us to respond in a manner most helpful to you, please indicate the nature of the accessibility problem, your preferred format in which you wish to receive the material, and your contact information.
IMPORTANT NOTE: We encourage all requesters to send FOIA requests by email rather than by postal mail. Email foia@uillinois.edu to submit a request. Sending a duplicate request by postal mail is not necessary if you have submitted a request by email.
For more detailed information, read:
If you have questions, please contact our office at 217-333-6400.