FOIA Request to University of California Los Angeles Regarding Chinese National Students on June 3, 2025.
As part of our ongoing commitment to transparency and accountability in public institutions, we at the West LA Times have submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). Our request seeks detailed information about Chinese National students currently enrolled at the university.
Specifically, we are requesting documents or lists that provide insight into the number and departmental distribution of these students. If privacy concerns prevent disclosure of individual names, we have asked for aggregated data by department. Additionally, we are seeking information regarding scholarships awarded to these students, including the amounts and sources of funding. We are particularly interested in any affiliations with the Chinese Scholarship Council.
Furthermore, our request includes a call for UCLA’s policies or procedures related to monitoring students—particularly Chinese Nationals—to safeguard intellectual property and other confidential information.
This inquiry is made in collaboration with The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, a non-profit organization dedicated to leveraging Freedom of Information laws to enhance governmental transparency. As members of the media, we emphasize the importance of access to public records in fulfilling our role as watchdogs and informers for the public.
We anticipate that this request will help shed light on how public universities manage international student affairs and maintain academic integrity while respecting privacy rights.
