FOIA Request to Memphis Theological Seminary Regarding Chinese National Students on May 14, 2025.
As part of our commitment to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, we at Memphis Standard have submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to Memphis Theological Seminary. This request is made under the Tennessee Open Records Act, §10-7-503 et seq., with the aim of obtaining specific records related to Chinese National students currently enrolled at the institution.
Our request seeks detailed information in several areas:
1. We are requesting documents or lists that identify all current students who are Chinese Nationals, along with their respective departments of study. If student names are protected, we have asked for the total number of such students and a breakdown by department.
2. We seek documents or lists detailing any scholarships received by these Chinese National students, including the amount and source of each scholarship.
3. In addition to the above, we have requested information on scholarships affiliated with the Chinese Scholarship Council, specifically identifying recipients if not already covered in our second request.
4. Lastly, we are interested in any policies or procedures that outline how the university monitors its students—particularly Chinese Nationals—to safeguard intellectual property and other confidential information.
This request is part of our broader mission with The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting transparency within governmental institutions. By leveraging Freedom of Information and Sunshine Laws, we aim to shed light on government actions and enhance public understanding.
We believe access to these records is crucial for holding public institutions accountable and ensuring transparency for our readers. As media professionals involved in gathering and reporting news, we have also requested a fee waiver based on our role in disseminating this important information to the public.
For further details about our efforts with The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, please visit [https://stopsecrecy.org/about/](https://stopsecrecy.org/about/).
