Penn State Ordered to Release Trustee Documents
Pennsylvania's Commonwealth Court has ordered Penn State to release internal trustee documents, upholding a decision by the Office of Open Records.
The case originated from a records request filed by Spotlight PA in May 2023 with the state's agriculture and education departments for records used by the agencies' secretaries while serving on the university's governing board.
Although Penn State is largely exempt from the state's open records law, a 2013 court ruling stated that records used by the agencies' secretaries as trustees could be accessed.
The Office of Open Records ruled that some of the requested records should be made public, prompting Penn State and the Department of Education to appeal the decision to Commonwealth Court.
No comment was provided by Penn State's Office of Strategic Communications or board leadership on the decision or potential appeal.
Author's summary: Penn State must release trustee documents.