FOIA Request to Bakersfield College Regarding Chinese National Students on June 3, 2025.
As part of our ongoing commitment to transparency and accountability in local governmental affairs, Kern County Times has submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to Bakersfield College. The request seeks detailed information concerning Chinese National students currently enrolled at the institution.
The specific records requested include:
1. Documents or lists showing all current students who are Chinese Nationals, along with their respective departments of study. If privacy concerns prevent sharing names, we have asked for the total number of such students and a breakdown by department.
2. Details regarding scholarships awarded to these students, including the amount and source of each scholarship.
3. Information about any scholarships granted by entities affiliated with the Chinese Scholarship Council, unless already covered in the previous request.
4. Policies or procedures outlining how the university safeguards its Intellectual Property and other confidential information from unauthorized access by any student group, including Chinese Nationals.
This request is made under the California Public Records Act § 6250 et seq., with a preference for receiving the information in electronic format. As members of the media, we emphasize our role in gathering and disseminating news to hold public institutions accountable and ensure transparency. In line with this mission, we have requested a fee waiver for accessing these public records.
Additionally, this request is supported by The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, a non-profit organization dedicated to leveraging Freedom of Information laws to enhance public understanding of government actions.
We await Bakersfield College’s response and remain committed to informing our readers about developments in this matter.
