FOIA Request to SUNY Geneseo regarding Chinese National students on June 16, 2025.
A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to SUNY Geneseo by Finger Lakes Today, a media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive news coverage on local governmental affairs. The request, sent under the New York Freedom of Information Law, seeks specific records related to Chinese National students currently enrolled at the university.
The request includes four main points:
1. A list or documents showing all current students who are Chinese Nationals and their respective departments of study. If names are protected, a total number broken down by department is requested.
2. Documents or lists detailing the scholarships received by current Chinese National students, including the amount and source of each scholarship.
3. A list of recipients of any scholarships granted by entities affiliated with the Chinese Scholarship Council, unless this information is already included in the previous request.
4. Policies or procedures that describe how the university monitors students, including Chinese Nationals, to protect its Intellectual Property and other confidential information.
Finger Lakes Today has emphasized that access to these public records is crucial for their role in holding public institutions accountable and ensuring transparency. They have also requested a fee waiver as they are involved in gathering and reporting news to the public.
This FOIA request is supported by The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, a non-profit organization that assists media companies and advocacy groups in investigating governmental agencies through Freedom of Information laws.
We look forward to receiving this information in an electronic format as it will greatly aid in our reporting efforts. As always, we remain open for any questions or clarifications regarding this request.
