FOIA Request to Western Kentucky University regarding Public University FY 2024 Employee Salaries on December 5, 2025.
A request for information was sent to Western Kentucky University by Bluegrass Times, a media organization dedicated to covering local governmental affairs. The request was made under the Kentucky Open Records Act § 61.872 et seq., seeking records related to employee compensation for all individuals employed by the university during Fiscal Year 2024. The request specifically asks for these records in an electronic format.
The requested records include various data fields such as Fiscal Year, Employee Name, Gender, Age or Year of Birth, Date of Birth, Employer Name, Title or Position, Department, Hire Date, Compensation Amount (including base pay and any additional pay), Compensation Type (e.g., salary, hourly wage), and Employment Type (full-time or part-time). It is noted that if certain fields are not available in every record, the production of all responsive records is still requested. In cases where portions of a record are exempt from disclosure, the request seeks the release of non-exempt portions in redacted form rather than withholding them entirely.
The requester identifies as a member of the media involved in gathering and reporting news to the public. They emphasize that access to public records is crucial for holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency. Additionally, they seek a fee waiver due to their role as a media professional.
The email also mentions that the requester is affiliated with The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, a non-profit organization that aids media companies and advocacy groups in investigating governmental agencies through Freedom of Information and Sunshine Laws. More information about this organization can be found at https://stopsecrecy.org/about/.
Our team will continue to keep you updated as we gather and report news related to this request and other matters of public interest. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or need further clarification regarding this matter.
