Polk Times

FOIA Request to Polk State College Regarding Chinese National Students on June 4, 2025.

A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to Polk State College seeking detailed records concerning Chinese National students currently enrolled at the institution. The request was made under Article I, section 24 of the Florida Constitution, and chapter 119, F.S., with a preference for electronic format delivery.

The request includes several specific inquiries:

1. Documentation or lists identifying all current students who are Chinese Nationals, along with their respective departments of study. If privacy laws protect certain information, a total count of these students broken down by department is requested.

2. Records showing the scholarships awarded to current Chinese National students, including the amount and source of each scholarship.

3. Information on any scholarship recipients affiliated with the Chinese Scholarship Council. If this data overlaps with previous requests, clarification on which scholarships meet this criterion is requested.

4. Policies or procedures detailing how the university monitors students—specifically Chinese Nationals—to safeguard intellectual property and other confidential information.

This request was submitted on behalf of Polk Times and The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting transparency in governmental affairs through investigative journalism. As media professionals committed to holding public institutions accountable and ensuring transparency for the public good, we have also requested a fee waiver for accessing these records.

For more information about our efforts to uncover government actions and inform the electorate, please visit [https://stopsecrecy.org/about/](https://stopsecrecy.org/about/).