SE Minnesota News

FOIA Request to University of Minnesota-Rochester regarding Chinese National students on June 16, 2025.

A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to the University of Minnesota-Rochester by SE Minnesota News, seeking specific records related to Chinese National students. The request was made under the Minnesota Data Practices Act § 13.01 et seq., with a preference for receiving the information in electronic format.

The FOIA request consists of four main points:

1. A list or documents showing all current students who are Chinese Nationals, along with their respective departments. If names are protected, the request asks for a total number of such students and a breakdown by department.

2. Documents or lists detailing scholarships received by current Chinese National students, including the amount and source of each scholarship.

3. Information on recipients of scholarships affiliated with the Chinese Scholarship Council, if not already covered in the second point.

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

The request emphasizes that access to these records is crucial for fulfilling media responsibilities such as holding public institutions accountable and ensuring transparency. The requester has also sought a fee waiver due to their role as a media professional.

This inquiry is supported by The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, an organization that aids media companies and advocacy groups in investigating governmental agencies through Freedom of Information laws. More details about this coalition can be found on their website: https://stopsecrecy.org/about/.

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.