FOIA Request to University of Maine at Machias regarding Chinese National students on June 16, 2025.
The Down East Times has submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the University of Maine at Machias seeking specific information related to Chinese National students. The request was made under the Maine Freedom of Access Act § 402 et seq., and it aims to obtain records in an electronic format.
The request includes several detailed inquiries:
1. Documents or lists showing all current students who are Chinese Nationals, along with their respective departments of study. If student names are protected, the request asks for a total number of such students and a breakdown by department.
2. Documents or lists detailing the 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, unless this information is already covered in the second request.
4. Policies or procedures that describe how the university monitors its students, including Chinese Nationals, to protect intellectual property and other confidential information.
The FOIA request emphasizes that if redaction is necessary due to privacy concerns, it should be applied where possible. However, if redaction is burdensome but totaling does not result in loss of information (specifically for the first request), grouping may be used.
The Down East Times has indicated that this request is being made on behalf of both their publication and The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy—a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting transparency in government actions through investigative efforts. The media outlet also seeks a fee waiver for accessing these public records, citing their role in gathering and disseminating news as justification.
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.
