FOIA Request to Fitchburg State University regarding Chinese National students on June 16, 2025.
A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to Fitchburg State University by NC Massachusetts News on June 16, 2025. The request seeks information concerning Chinese National students enrolled at the university. The records requested under the Massachusetts Public Records Act § 66-10 et seq. are preferably sought in electronic format.
The request outlines four specific inquiries:
1. A list or documents showing all current students who are Chinese Nationals, including their department of study. If such information is protected, a total number of these students and a breakdown by department is requested.
2. Documents or lists detailing the scholarships received by current Chinese National students, including the amount and source of each scholarship.
3. A list of recipients of any scholarships from grantors affiliated with the Chinese Scholarship Council, unless this information is already covered in the second request.
4. Any policies or procedures that describe how the university monitors students, including Chinese Nationals, to protect its Intellectual Property and other confidential information.
The request emphasizes that if student names are protected, redaction should be applied where necessary. It also notes that grouping information might be acceptable for certain requests if it does not result in a loss of data.
This FOIA request is submitted on behalf of NC Massachusetts News and The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting transparency within governmental agencies through public records laws.
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.
