FOIA Request to Bishop State Community College Regarding Chinese National Students on May 16, 2025.
We, at Mobile Courant, have submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to Bishop State Community College seeking detailed records concerning Chinese National students enrolled at the institution. This request is made under the Alabama Open Records Law § 36-12-40 et seq., with a preference for receiving the information in electronic format.
Our inquiry includes several specific requests:
1. We are asking for documents or lists that reveal all current students who are Chinese Nationals and their respective departments of study. If student names are protected, we request a total count of these students broken down by department.
2. We seek documents or lists detailing the scholarships received by current Chinese National students, including the amount and source of each scholarship.
3. In cases where information from request #2 does not cover this aspect, we ask for a list of recipients of any scholarships granted by entities affiliated with the Chinese Scholarship Council. If such details are included in request #2, we request identification of which scholarships fulfill this requirement.
4. Additionally, we are interested in any policies or procedures outlining how the university monitors its students, including Chinese Nationals, to safeguard its Intellectual Property and other confidential information.
This FOIA request is made on behalf of Mobile Courant and The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy—a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing transparency in governmental affairs through strategic use of Freedom of Information and Sunshine Laws.
As members of the media committed to providing comprehensive news coverage and holding public institutions accountable, access to these records is crucial for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities. We have also requested a fee waiver due to our role in disseminating information to the public.
For further details about The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy and its mission, please visit [https://stopsecrecy.org/about/](https://stopsecrecy.org/about/).
