FOIA Request to Minnesota State University - Moorhead regarding Chinese National students on June 16, 2025.
A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to Minnesota State University - Moorhead on June 16, 2025, by WC Minnesota News. The request seeks information under the Minnesota Data Practices Act § 13.01 et seq., focusing on records related to Chinese National students at the university.
The request includes several specific inquiries. Firstly, it asks for documents or lists showing all current students who are Chinese Nationals and their respective departments of study. If such details are protected, the request asks for a total number of these students broken down by department.
Secondly, the FOIA request seeks information about scholarships received by Chinese National students, including the amount and source of each scholarship. It further requests identification of any scholarships granted by entities affiliated with the Chinese Scholarship Council.
Additionally, the request calls for any policies or procedures that describe how the university monitors its students, including those who are Chinese Nationals, to protect intellectual property and other confidential information.
The request emphasizes that if redaction is necessary due to privacy concerns, it should be applied where appropriate. However, if redaction proves burdensome but grouping information suffices without losing critical data—such as in totaling numbers—the university may opt for this method.
WC Minnesota News has indicated that they are submitting this request in collaboration with The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy. They assert their role as a media organization in gathering and reporting news to hold public institutions accountable and promote transparency. The requester also seeks a fee waiver based on their media affiliation.
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.
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