Access to Public Records

Danville Area Community College will allow the public access to reports and records of the College for inspection and reproduction in accordance with the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (effective July 1, 1984) and in accordance with Public act 96-0542 (effective January 1, 2010). An individual or group must file a written request for access during normal office hours, at the office of the Secretary to the Board of Trustees, at Danville Area Community College, Administration Building (Vermilion Hall Room 202), 2000 East Main Street, Danville, Illinois 61832. The Secretary serves as the Freedom of Information Act Officer and is so identified on the DACC website. He/she participates in annual required training.

Public records of the College include non-exempt reports, records, or electronic communications:

• Public records include electronic communications and materials related to the transaction of public business.
• All records related to the use of public funds are public records.
• All settlement agreements entered into by the public body are available for public inspection.
• A "public record" includes records not in the possession of a public body if the record is in the possession of a party with whom the public body has contracted to perform a governmental function if it directly relates to the governmental function and is not otherwise exempt under the Act.

The above is designed to provide assistance in determining whether particular records are within the purview of the Act. Even though a particular document is not included in this list, it is still a public record under the Act if it was prepared or is being used by the College.

Appeal Process

Written notice of intent to deny the request or any part of it will be made by the College to the requester. The notice must contain a detailed summary of the College's intent to deny the request or any part of it. Any person denied the right to inspect or copy any public record of Danville Area Community College after an appropriate written request may file an Appeal with the State Public Access Counselor, Office of the Attorney General, 500 South Second Street, Springfield, IL 62706, Phone: 312-814-5526 or 1-877-299-3642.

Adopted: 7/28/92; Revised: 1/26/10

Procedure

The Illinois Freedom of Information Act is a comprehensive law mandating a host of detailed requirements. Perhaps the most important general affirmative duty imposed upon the public body which must be accomplished is the requirement to display certain information at each administrative or regional office of the body. The information to be displayed at each office is:

• a description and summary of the purpose of the body

  Danville Area Community College is an accredited public two-year community college providing higher education opportunities for youths and adults in East Central Illinois. It was established initially as an extension center of the University of Illinois in 1946. DACC became a public junior college named Danville Community College under the Danville Public Schools in 1949. In 1951, the name was changed to Danville Junior College. In April of 1966, the College separated from Danville School District No. 118. Under provisions of the Public Junior College Act, Danville Junior College became an independent two-year college under the control of the Board of Trustees of Junior College District No. 507 on May 31, 1966. The name Danville Junior College was changed to Danville Area Community College on July 1, 1979, to be more reflective of the area served. The College district encompasses high school districts in Vermilion, Edgar, Iroquois, Ford and Champaign counties with an estimated population of 89,244.

  The College, housed until 1965 at Danville High School, is now located on an attractive seventy-five acre campus at the east edge of the city of Danville. The heart of the campus includes the sixty-one acres, nine classroom buildings, and the Administration Building acquired from the Veterans Administration in 1966 and renovated for educational purposes through funds provided by generous public support of the Danville Junior College Foundation drive in 1965.

• the official budget document

  Located in the Administration Building (Vermilion Hall Room 202)

• the number and location of offices

  Administration Building (Vermilion Hall), 2000 East Main Street, Danville, Illinois 61832

• the approximate number of employees

  174 full time, 85 part time

• the elected governing board

  DACC Board of Trustees, composed of seven (7) voting members and one (1) non-voting student member. Names available at Administration Building.

• a description of the methods for requesting records

  Records may be reviewed in the presence of the Board Secretary (FOIA Officer) or his/her designee, during normal working hours of the College. The attached form, "Public Records Request," may be used but is not required. All written requests for records should be submitted to the Board Secretary of DACC, 2000 East Main Street, Danville, Illinois 61832. Phone: (217) 443-8850. The FOIA Officer is required to note and date the time the request is received; calculate the 5-day response deadline and note it in writing in the response. All documents pertaining to a request are required to be kept until the request is complied with or denied. Files maintaining all FOIA requests are required to be maintained. In the event an extension is required to comply with a request, only 5 business days are allowed.

• fees

  No fees will be charged for the first 50 pages requested. Fees for more than 50 copies will be set by the Administration, but will not exceed 15 cents per page.

• FOIA requests will be shared with the Board of Trustees.

Public Records Request

This form must be delivered to the office of the Secretary to the Board of Trustees, Danville Area Community College, Administration Building (Vermilion Hall Room 202), 2000 East Main Street, Danville, Illinois 61832, during normal office hours.

I, , hereby request a copy

of

___

public records or reports.

Date __ Name __

Address __ City & State __

OFFICIAL USE

___

Approval ___ Disapproval ___

Official Signature __ Date

Reason of denial: ___

___

Statutory Exemption authorizing denial: ____

___

If your request is denied, you have the right to file a written Appeal with the State Public Access Counselor, Office of the Attorney General, 500 South Second Street, Springfield, IL 62706, Phone: 312-814-5526 or 1-877-299-3642.

I, hereby request an appeal of the decision to deny access to the public record specified.

Date ___ Name ___

Address ___ City & State