SE Minnesota News

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

A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to Winona State University by SE Minnesota News, a media organization focused on local governmental affairs. The request seeks information under the Minnesota Data Practices Act § 13.01 et seq., specifically concerning Chinese National students at the university.

The request outlines four main points of interest:

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

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

3. Information about recipients of scholarships from grantors affiliated with the Chinese Scholarship Council, unless already covered in the previous point.

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

The request emphasizes that if student names are protected, redaction is acceptable where necessary. It also suggests grouping information when possible to ease any burden associated with redaction efforts.

SE Minnesota News is requesting this information as part of its commitment to transparency and accountability in public institutions. The organization has requested a fee waiver due to its role in gathering and reporting news for public dissemination.

The request was made on behalf of both SE Minnesota News and The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, a non-profit corporation dedicated to investigating governmental agencies using FOIA and Sunshine 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.