Anne Arundel Today

FOIA Request to St. Mary's College of Maryland regarding Chinese National students on June 16, 2025.

A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to St. Mary's College of Maryland on June 16, 2025, by Anne Arundel Today in collaboration with The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy. The request seeks specific records under the Maryland Public Information Act Title 4, primarily focusing on the enrollment and scholarship details of Chinese National students at the college.

The request outlines four main areas of interest:

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

2. Information on scholarships received by current Chinese National students, specifying the amount and source of each scholarship.

3. A list of recipients of scholarships affiliated with the Chinese Scholarship Council if not already covered in the previous request.

4. Policies or procedures describing how the university monitors students, including Chinese Nationals, to protect intellectual property and other confidential information.

The requester has emphasized that access to these records is crucial for journalistic purposes and has requested a fee waiver due to their role as a media professional. The request aims to ensure transparency and accountability within public institutions.

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.