FOIA Request to University of North Alabama Regarding Chinese National Students on May 16, 2025.
As part of our commitment to transparency and accountability in governmental affairs, Shoals Today has submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the University of North Alabama. The request seeks detailed information about Chinese National students currently enrolled at the university.
Our inquiry focuses on several key areas:
1. We are requesting documents or lists that identify all current students who are Chinese Nationals, along with their respective departments of study. If privacy laws restrict the disclosure of student names, we have asked for a total count of these students and a breakdown by department.
2. We seek records detailing any scholarships awarded to Chinese National students, including the amount and source of each scholarship.
3. In addition to general scholarship information, we have requested specific details about scholarships granted by entities affiliated with the Chinese Scholarship Council. If this data overlaps with previous requests, we ask for clarification on which scholarships meet this criterion.
4. Finally, we are interested in any university policies or procedures that outline how the institution monitors students—particularly Chinese Nationals—to safeguard its Intellectual Property and other confidential information.
This request is made in collaboration with The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, a Missouri-based non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing public access to government actions through Freedom of Information and Sunshine Laws. Our goal is to ensure transparency within public institutions and provide the public with comprehensive news coverage on matters affecting them.
We believe that as members of the media, our role in gathering and disseminating information qualifies us for a fee waiver under applicable laws. This waiver will enable us to continue holding public institutions accountable without financial barriers impeding our journalistic responsibilities.
For more information about our partner organization, please visit [The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy](https://stopsecrecy.org/about/).
We await the university’s response and remain committed to keeping our readers informed about developments in this matter.
