Tri-City Sun

FOIA Request to Saginaw Valley State University regarding Chinese National students on June 16, 2025.

A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to Saginaw Valley State University by a representative from the Tri-City Sun, a media organization focused on local governmental affairs. The request, sent on June 16, 2025, seeks specific records related to Chinese National students enrolled at the university.

The FOIA request includes several detailed inquiries:

1. A list or documents identifying all current students who are Chinese Nationals and their respective departments of study. If this information is protected, the requester asks for a total count of such students and a breakdown by department.

2. Documents showing all current Chinese National students, detailing the scholarships they receive and the sources of these scholarships.

3. A list of scholarship recipients with grantors affiliated with the Chinese Scholarship Council. If this information overlaps with request #2, clarification is requested on which scholarships satisfy this inquiry.

4. Policies or procedures describing how the university monitors students, including Chinese Nationals, to protect intellectual property and other confidential information.

The requester has indicated that if certain student information is protected under privacy laws, redaction is acceptable. They also express willingness to accept grouped data where feasible without losing significant details.

This request is made on behalf of both Tri-City Sun and The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy—a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting transparency in government operations through investigative efforts leveraging Freedom of Information laws.

The media professional behind this request has also sought a fee waiver due to their role in gathering and disseminating news to the public, emphasizing that access to these records is crucial for holding public institutions accountable and ensuring transparency.

We look forward to receiving this information in an electronic format as it will greatly aid in our reporting efforts. As always, we remain open for any questions or clarifications regarding this request.