FOIA Request to University of Georgia Regarding Chinese National Students on June 4, 2025.
As part of our commitment to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, we at Athens Reporter have submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the University of Georgia. This request seeks information under the Georgia Open Records Act § 50.18.70 et seq., focusing on several key areas concerning Chinese National students currently enrolled at the university.
Our request includes the following:
1. We are seeking documents or lists that detail all current students who are Chinese Nationals, including their respective departments of study. If certain information is protected, we have requested a total number of these students broken down by department.
2. We have asked for documents or lists showing all current Chinese National students, specifying the amount and source of each scholarship they receive.
3. Additionally, we seek information regarding recipients of scholarships affiliated with the Chinese Scholarship Council, requesting identification of which scholarships in our second request satisfy this criterion if applicable.
4. Lastly, we have requested any policies or procedures that describe how the university monitors students, including Chinese Nationals, to protect its Intellectual Property and other confidential information.
This request is made in collaboration with The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, a non-profit organization dedicated to leveraging Freedom of Information and Sunshine Laws to enhance transparency and accountability within governmental agencies. As members of the media involved in gathering and reporting news to the public, access to these records is essential for fulfilling our professional responsibilities and ensuring public institutions remain accountable.
We believe that as media professionals disseminating crucial information to the public, we qualify for a fee waiver associated with this request. We look forward to receiving a response from the University of Georgia and will continue to update our readers as more information becomes available.
