The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette’s persistent, hard-nosed reporting has prompted the University of Central Arkansas to seek a formal opinion from federal Education officials about whether release of discretionary tuition waivers and other scholarship awards violates federal privacy law pertaining to student records. The D-G has quoted a variety of experts who dispute Interim President Tom Courtway’s belief that the law does not allow him to release these names.

(For the record: the Arkansas Times also made an FOI requests for this list of names weeks ago and was similarly rebuffed.)

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Here’s the formal opinion request.

Democrat-Gazette reporting has already turned up tuition wavers for children of several UCA trustees of varying amounts. Reliable sources tell me there are some biggies, including huge favors to very wealthy prominent UCA players, yet to be uncovered.

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