FOIA Request to Southern University Law Center regarding Chinese National students on June 16, 2025.
A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to the Southern University Law Center on June 16, 2025, by a news reporter from Baton Rouge Reporter. The request seeks information about Chinese National students enrolled at the university. Specifically, the request asks for documents or lists showing all current students who are Chinese Nationals and their respective departments of study. If such information is protected, a total number of these students and their departmental distribution is requested instead.
Additionally, the FOIA request seeks details on scholarships awarded to these students, including the amount and source of each scholarship. There is also a specific interest in identifying recipients of scholarships affiliated with the Chinese Scholarship Council. Furthermore, the request includes a demand for any policies or procedures that describe how the university monitors its students, including Chinese Nationals, to protect intellectual property and other confidential information.
The request was made under the Louisiana Public Records Act § 44:1 et seq., with a preference for receiving the records in electronic format. The requester has expressed that they are acting on behalf of both Baton Rouge Reporter and The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy—a non-profit organization dedicated to investigating governmental agencies using transparency 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.
