FOIA Request to Western Connecticut State University Regarding Chinese National Students on June 4, 2025.
As part of our commitment to transparency and accountability in local governmental affairs, Housatonic Valley News has submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to Western Connecticut State University. Our request seeks detailed information about the university’s Chinese National students, including their departmental affiliations and scholarship details.
Specifically, we have requested documents or lists that reveal the number of current students who are Chinese Nationals and their respective departments. In cases where student names are protected, we have asked for a total count broken down by department. Additionally, we seek information on scholarships received by these students, including the amount and source of each scholarship.
Furthermore, we have requested details on any scholarships associated with the Chinese Scholarship Council and any policies or procedures the university employs to monitor students—particularly Chinese Nationals—to safeguard intellectual property and confidential information.
This request is made in collaboration with The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, a non-profit organization dedicated to investigating state and federal governmental agencies through Freedom of Information and Sunshine Laws. As members of the media, we believe access to public records is crucial for holding public institutions accountable and ensuring transparency for the public. We have also requested a fee waiver given our role in disseminating this vital information.
For more information about our partners in this endeavor, please visit [The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy](https://stopsecrecy.org/about/).
