FOIA Request to San Francisco State University Regarding Chinese National Students on June 3, 2025.
We, at the San Francisco Sun, have submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to San Francisco State University seeking detailed information about current students who are Chinese Nationals. This request is made under the California Public Records Act § 6250 et seq., and we have asked for the records in electronic format for ease of access and analysis.
Our inquiry includes several specific requests:
1. We are seeking documents or lists that identify all current students who are Chinese Nationals and their respective departments of study. If student names are protected, we have requested the total number of such students broken down by department.
2. We have also asked for documents detailing any scholarships received by these students, including the amount and source of each scholarship.
3. Additionally, we seek information on scholarships affiliated with the Chinese Scholarship Council that may not be covered in our second request.
4. Finally, we are interested in any university policies or procedures that outline how the institution monitors students, including those who are Chinese Nationals, to safeguard its Intellectual Property and other confidential information.
This request is part of our commitment to providing comprehensive news coverage on local governmental affairs and ensuring transparency within public institutions. As members of The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy—a non-profit organization dedicated to investigating governmental agencies—we believe this information is crucial for holding public institutions accountable and informing the American electorate.
We have requested a fee waiver as media professionals engaged in gathering and reporting news to the public. Our goal is to leverage this information to enhance public understanding and oversight of university operations concerning international students and intellectual property protection measures.
