FOIA Request to St. Petersburg College Regarding Chinese National Students on June 4, 2025.
As part of our commitment to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, we at the St. Pete Standard have submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to St. Petersburg College. Our request seeks detailed information concerning Chinese National students currently enrolled at the institution.
The request specifically asks for documents or lists showing all current students who are Chinese Nationals, along with their respective departments of study. If privacy concerns prevent the release of individual names, we have requested aggregated data indicating the total number of such students and their distribution across various departments.
Additionally, we seek information about scholarships awarded to these students. This includes details on the amount each student receives and the source of these scholarships. We are particularly interested in any scholarships associated with the Chinese Scholarship Council.
Furthermore, our inquiry extends to understanding how St. Petersburg College monitors its students, including Chinese Nationals, to safeguard its Intellectual Property and other confidential information.
This request is made in collaboration with The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing transparency by leveraging Freedom of Information and Sunshine Laws. As members of the media, we emphasize that access to public records is crucial for holding public institutions accountable and ensuring transparency for the public’s benefit.
We have also requested a fee waiver for this FOIA submission based on our role as media professionals engaged in gathering and reporting news to inform the public effectively.
For more information about The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy and its mission, please visit [https://stopsecrecy.org/about/](https://stopsecrecy.org/about/).
