Carbondale Reporter

FOIA Request to Southern Illinois University Carbondale Regarding Chinese National Students on May 14, 2025.

As part of our commitment to transparency and accountability in local governmental affairs, we at the Carbondale Reporter have submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to Southern Illinois University Carbondale. This request seeks detailed information about the university's current Chinese National students and related policies.

Our inquiry includes several specific requests:

1. We are asking for documents or lists that identify all current students who are Chinese Nationals, along with their respective departments of study. If privacy concerns arise, we have requested the total number of such students and a breakdown by department instead.

2. We seek information on scholarships awarded to these students, including the amount and source of each scholarship.

3. Additionally, we request details about any scholarships affiliated with the Chinese Scholarship Council, specifying recipients not covered in our previous request.

4. Finally, we are interested in understanding how the university monitors its students, including Chinese Nationals, to safeguard intellectual property and confidential information.

This request is made on behalf of The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing public access to government actions through FOIA and Sunshine Laws. As members of the media, our role in gathering and disseminating news is crucial for maintaining transparency and holding public institutions accountable. We believe this qualifies us for a fee waiver under media provisions.

We look forward to SIU Carbondale's cooperation in providing these records as part of our ongoing efforts to inform the public accurately and comprehensively.