FOIA Request to Delta State University regarding Public University FY 2024 Employee Salaries on December 5, 2025.
A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to Delta State University by Magnolia State News, seeking detailed records of employee compensation for the fiscal year 2024. The request, sent on December 5, 2025, aims to obtain comprehensive data under the Mississippi Public Records Act § 25-61-1 et seq., with a preference for electronic format delivery.
The request specifically asks for records detailing employee compensation for all individuals employed by the university during Fiscal Year 2024. This period is generally defined as spanning from September 2024 through July 2025; however, if Delta State University operates on different fiscal-year boundaries, the requester has asked that records be provided according to the university’s official definitions and that these date ranges be clearly indicated in the response.
Magnolia State News has requested several specific data fields within these records. These include: Fiscal Year, Employee Name, Employee Gender (if recorded), Employee Age or Year of Birth (if not exempt), Employee Date of Birth (if not exempt or limited to month/year), Employer Name, Employee Title or Position, Employee Department, Employee Hire Date, Employee Compensation Amount (base pay and any additional pay), Employee Compensation Type (e.g., salary, hourly, stipend, bonus), and Employment Type (full-time or part-time).
The news organization acknowledges that not all fields may exist in every record but requests that all responsive records be produced regardless of field presence. If any portion of a record is deemed exempt from disclosure, they have requested that non-exempt portions be released in redacted form rather than withheld entirely.
As a media entity committed to transparency and accountability in public institutions, Magnolia State News has also requested a fee waiver due to their role in gathering and disseminating information to the public. The organization is affiliated with The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy—a non-profit corporation assisting media companies and advocacy groups in investigating governmental agencies using FOIA and Sunshine Laws.
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.
