Kalamazoo Times

FOIA Request to Western Michigan University regarding Chinese National students on June 16, 2025.

The Kalamazoo Times has submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to Western Michigan University. The request seeks specific records related to Chinese National students enrolled at the university. The request was sent on June 16, 2025, under the Michigan Freedom of Information Act § 15.231 et seq., with a preference for receiving the information in electronic format.

The request outlines four main points of interest:

1. A list or documents showing all current students who are Chinese Nationals and their respective departments of study. If this information is protected, a total number of such students broken down by department is requested.

2. Documentation or lists detailing all current Chinese National students, including the amount and source of each scholarship they receive.

3. A separate list of recipients of scholarships affiliated with the Chinese Scholarship Council, unless this information is already included in the previous request.

4. Any policies or procedures that describe how the university monitors students, including Chinese Nationals, to protect intellectual property and other confidential information.

The FOIA request emphasizes that if student names are protected under privacy laws, redaction should be applied where necessary. Additionally, if providing detailed information is burdensome but can be summarized without losing essential data, grouping the information is acceptable for certain requests.

This inquiry is part of a broader effort by The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, a non-profit organization that assists media companies and public advocacy groups in investigating governmental agencies through transparency laws. More details about their mission can be found on their website here.

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.