FOIA Request to Missouri State University regarding Chinese National students on June 16, 2025.
A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to Missouri State University by the Springfield Standard, a media organization dedicated to comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs. The request seeks detailed information about Chinese National students at the university under the Missouri Sunshine Law § 610.023 et seq.
The request includes several specific inquiries:
1. A list or documents showing all current students who are Chinese Nationals, along with their department of study. If this information is protected, a total number of such students broken down by department is requested.
2. Documents or lists detailing the scholarships received by current Chinese National students, including the amount and source of each scholarship.
3. Information on recipients of scholarships from grantors affiliated with the Chinese Scholarship Council, if not already covered in the previous request.
4. Policies or procedures describing how the university monitors students, including Chinese Nationals, to protect its Intellectual Property and other confidential information.
The Springfield Standard has indicated that they are requesting this information as part of their role in gathering and reporting news to hold public institutions accountable and provide transparency to the public. They have also requested a fee waiver for this FOIA request due to their status as a media organization.
This request is supported by The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, a non-profit organization assisting media companies and advocacy groups in investigating state and federal governmental agencies through Freedom of Information and Sunshine 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.
