Sangamon Sun

FOIA Request to University of Illinois Springfield Regarding Chinese National Students on May 14, 2025.

As part of our commitment to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, we have submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the University of Illinois Springfield. Our request seeks detailed information about Chinese National students currently enrolled at the university.

Specifically, we are requesting documents or lists that identify all current students who are Chinese Nationals and their respective departments of study. If student names are protected under privacy laws, we have asked for a total count of these students broken down by department.

Additionally, we are seeking information on scholarships awarded to these students. This includes details about the amount and source of each scholarship received by Chinese National students. Furthermore, we have requested a list of recipients for any scholarships affiliated with the Chinese Scholarship Council.

Our inquiry also extends to understanding how the university monitors its students, including those who are Chinese Nationals, in order to protect intellectual property and other confidential information.

This request is made in collaboration with The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, a non-profit organization dedicated to investigating state and federal governmental agencies through Freedom of Information and Sunshine Laws. We believe access to this information is crucial for maintaining transparency and accountability within public institutions. As members of the media, we seek a fee waiver given our role in disseminating important information to the public.

We await the university's response and will continue to report on developments as they unfold.