South Michigan News

FOIA Request to Jackson College regarding Chinese National students on June 16, 2025.

On June 16, 2025, South Michigan News submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to Jackson College. The request seeks detailed information concerning Chinese National students currently enrolled at the institution. The inquiry is made under the Michigan Freedom of Information Act § 15.231 et seq., with a preference for receiving the records in electronic format.

The FOIA request includes several specific points of interest:

1. A list or documents showing all current students who are Chinese Nationals, along with their respective departments of study. If names are protected, the request asks for the total number of such students and a breakdown by department.

2. Documentation detailing scholarships awarded to these Chinese National students, including the amount received and the source of each scholarship.

3. Information on recipients of scholarships affiliated with the Chinese Scholarship Council, unless already covered in point two.

4. Policies or procedures that outline how Jackson College monitors its students, including Chinese Nationals, to safeguard intellectual property and other confidential information.

The request emphasizes that if redaction is necessary due to privacy concerns, it should be done accordingly. However, if redacting is burdensome and does not result in loss of information, grouping data is suggested as an alternative.

South Michigan News has submitted this request in collaboration with The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy—a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing transparency through leveraging FOIA and Sunshine Laws.

As part of their role in news gathering and public reporting, South Michigan News has requested a fee waiver for accessing these records. This waiver is sought based on their function as a media outlet committed to holding public institutions accountable and ensuring transparency.

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.