Ames Today

FOIA Request to Iowa State University regarding Chinese National students on June 16, 2025.

Ames Today, a media organization focused on local governmental affairs, has submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to Iowa State University. The request, made under the Iowa Open Records Law § 22.1 et seq, seeks specific information related to Chinese National students at the university.

The request outlines four main points:

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

2. Documents or lists detailing scholarships received by current Chinese National students, including the amount and source of each scholarship.

3. A list of recipients of any scholarships affiliated with the Chinese Scholarship Council if not covered in the previous request. Alternatively, identification of which scholarships in the prior request satisfy this criterion.

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

The requester emphasizes their role as a member of the media in gathering and reporting news to ensure public accountability and transparency. They have also requested a fee waiver due to their professional responsibilities.

The request is made on behalf of Ames Today and The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, a non-profit organization assisting media companies 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.