FOIA Request to SUNY College at Potsdam regarding Chinese National students on June 16, 2025.
A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to SUNY College at Potsdam by North Country Leader, a media organization dedicated to covering local governmental affairs. The request, sent on June 16, 2025, seeks detailed information about Chinese National students enrolled at the university. The request is made under the New York Freedom of Information Law and asks for records in electronic format.
The request comprises several specific inquiries:
1. Documents or lists showing all current students who are Chinese Nationals, including their department of study. If this information is protected, the requester asks for the total number of such students and a breakdown by department.
2. Documents or lists detailing scholarships received by current Chinese National students, including the amount and source of each scholarship.
3. A list of recipients of any scholarships affiliated with the Chinese Scholarship Council that are not included in the previous request. If covered in request #2, clarification on which scholarships meet this criterion is requested.
4. Policies or procedures describing how the university monitors students, including Chinese Nationals, to protect intellectual property and other confidential information.
The requester has emphasized their role as a member of the media involved in gathering and reporting news to hold public institutions accountable and provide transparency. They have also requested a fee waiver due to their professional responsibilities.
The requestor represents both North Country Leader and The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, a non-profit organization that aids media companies and advocacy groups in investigating governmental agencies using FOIA laws. More information about this coalition can be found on their website: https://stopsecrecy.org/about/.
Our team will continue to keep you updated as we gather and report news related to this request and other matters of public interest. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or need further clarification regarding this matter.
