Anne Arundel Today

FOIA Request to United States Naval Academy regarding Chinese National students on June 16, 2025.

A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to the United States Naval Academy on June 16, 2025, by Anne Arundel Today, a media organization dedicated to covering local governmental affairs. The request seeks information under the Maryland Public Information Act Title 4, specifically related to Chinese National students at the academy.

The request comprises several specific inquiries:

1. Documents or lists detailing all current students who are Chinese Nationals and their respective departments of study. If such information is protected, a total number of these students and a breakdown by department is requested.

2. Documentation or lists showing all current Chinese National students, including details on scholarships they receive and the sources of these scholarships.

3. A list of recipients of any scholarship from grantors affiliated with the Chinese Scholarship Council, unless this information is already included in the second request.

4. Policies or procedures that describe how the university monitors students, including Chinese Nationals, to protect its Intellectual Property and other confidential information.

The request emphasizes that if certain student names are protected under privacy laws, redaction is acceptable where necessary. Furthermore, if redaction proves burdensome but summarizing does not lose essential information (as in the first request), grouping data is permissible.

Anne Arundel Today has requested this information as part of its mission to hold public institutions accountable and provide transparency to the public. The organization has also applied for a fee waiver due to its role in disseminating news as a media entity.

This FOIA request is made in collaboration with The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, a non-profit organization that assists media companies and advocacy groups in investigating governmental agencies through Freedom of Information and Sunshine Laws.

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.