FOIA Request to Lurleen B Wallace Community College Regarding Chinese National Students on May 16, 2025.
The South Alabama Times, in collaboration with The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, has submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to Lurleen B Wallace Community College. This request seeks comprehensive records concerning the enrollment and scholarship details of Chinese National students at the institution.
Specifically, we are requesting documents or lists that identify all current students who are Chinese Nationals and their respective departments of study. If such information is protected, we have asked for the total number of these students and a breakdown by department. Additionally, we seek records detailing the scholarships awarded to these students, including the amount and source of each scholarship.
Furthermore, our request includes a list of recipients of any scholarships granted by organizations affiliated with the Chinese Scholarship Council. In cases where this information overlaps with previous requests, we have asked for clarification on which scholarships satisfy this requirement.
We are also interested in any policies or procedures the university has in place to monitor students, including Chinese Nationals, to safeguard its Intellectual Property and other confidential information.
As members of the media committed to transparency and accountability in public institutions, we believe access to these records is vital for informing the public. We have requested a fee waiver due to our role in disseminating information crucial for public awareness.
This initiative aligns with our mission at The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy—a non-profit organization dedicated to investigating governmental agencies through Freedom of Information and Sunshine Laws—to ensure government actions remain transparent to the American electorate.
