Freedom of Information Law Requests (FOIL)

The Freedom of Information Law (Public Officers Law §§ 84–90) requires that the State University of New York (University) make certain records available to the public. The law requires each campus and the system administration of the University to designate records access officers. Requests for information from the campus or the system administration should be directed to the respective records access officer at each location, as appropriate.

All requests for information must be acted upon within five business days. If the University or campus is unable to answer an applicant’s request within five days of receipt, it must acknowledge the request and inform the applicant of the approximate and reasonable time when the request will be answered. If the records access officers determines to grant a request in whole or in part, and if circumstances prevent disclosure to the person requesting the record or records within twenty business days from the date of the acknowledgement of the receipt of the request, the University or campus shall state, in writing, both the reason for the inability to grant the request within twenty business days and a date certain within a reasonable period, depending on the circumstances, when the request will be granted in whole or in part.

An applicant may appeal if the University or campus has not acted within ten business days of the acknowledgment. The University or campus may either grant or deny access to the records requested, or certify that it does not have or cannot find the records after a diligent search. Records involving trade secrets are subject to separate procedures and requirements under the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL). Appeals from a denial of access may be taken within 30 days.

[Last update April 10, 2025]
For more information on FOIL, visit this page.
FOIL requests for Dutchess Community College should be sent to foil@sunydutchess.edu.