English Teaching Assistant Program of United States Sri Lanka Fulbright Commission

To Whom It May Concern:

This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act. I hereby request the following records:

Please send me the following documents on Fulbright English Teaching assistants/grantees and the Fulbright English Teaching Assistant program in Sri Lanka:
1)The English Teaching Assistant program plan for Sri Lanka approved by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. (Section 111.1 of the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board policies)
2) The guidelines established by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs for English Teaching Assistant programs. (Section 111.1 of the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board policies)
3) A copy of all the final reports submitted by the English Training Assistants/grantees in Sri Lanka starting from year 2010. (Section 132.6 of the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board policies)
4) A copy of the annual report from the United States Sri Lanka Fulbright Commission for year 2015. ( Section 132.2 of the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board policies)
5) Copies of the summary minutes of the meetings of the United States Sri Lanka Fulbright Commission for year 2015. ( Section 132.2 of the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board policies)

The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.

In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 20 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Heikki Olavi

I have not received any material or anything else from you. Can you please check again? Thank you.

Hello,
I'm writing in regard to FOIA Request #F-2016-14639. It was closed out on April 1, and although your office mailed all releasable material on that date, it has not yet arrived. You mentioned appealing your response in your most recent email and said that information on how to appeal should have been included in the released material. However, we have no idea whether or not you included the appeal information, or whether or not we have any desire to, or grounds on which to appeal, because we haven't received anything from your office regarding this request.
I apologize for the inconvenience, but will you please resend the documents released through FOIA Request #F-2016-14639 to the following address:

Dept. MR29735
411A Highland Ave.
Somerville, MA 02144

Thank you for your attention to this matter, and for all the work you've put into helping us fulfill this request thus far. If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to call MuckRock's office at 617-299-1832. Thanks again!

Best,
Caitlin Russell

Hello,

You have twice written that according to your records F-2016-14639 has been closed and that you have mailed me the documents and information on how to appeal. I reiterate that I still have not received anything from you for F-2016-14639. I just searched for F-2016-14639 on http://www.foia.state.gov and found nothing. Should not the documents released in response to F-2016-14639 be there since they were according to your records mailed to me 04/01/2018? Are not documents released because of all FOIA requests published there?

Can you please clarify why there is nothing on F-2016-14639 available on http://www.foia.state.gov.

Kindly send me all releasable material again and information on how to appeal. At the moment I have no reason to appeal since I have no knowledge of what you have decided and mailed.

What can I do if you insist that material has been sent but I do not receive it?

Thank you.

Hello,
Unfortunately, the individual never received the released documents either, and has contacted us because they've been attempting to obtain them and have been told that the request is closed and the department will not mail a copy of the release again. Can you please tell me which address the documents were sent to? It's possible that you were provided with an out of date address. Thanks!
Best,
Caitlin

Dear Sir/Madame,

This is an appeal under the Freedom of Information Act.

I sent a FOIA request to Department of State 11/01/2016 regarding English Teaching Assistant Program of United States Sri Lanka Fulbright Commission. My request was acknowledged 11/04/2016 and given Case Control Number F-2016-14639.

04/11/2018 I received an email stating that “ Our records indicate the case was closed on 4-1-2018 and you were mailed all releasable material.” I replied 04/14/2018 writing that I had not received anything and asking them to check again. 04/18/2018 I received a reply reiterating that the case is closed and all releasable material and instructions on how to appeal had been sent 04/01/2018.

I contacted Muckrock for help and 04/20/2018 one of their staff members Caitlin Russell asked the agency to resend the material.

04/30/2018 Ms Russel was informed that she cannot receive any information since she has not made the request.

04/30/2018 I sent another mail requesting them to resend all releasable material and instructions on appeal.

04/30/2018 my latest email received a reply addressed to Ms Russel stating that the case is closed and that the agency had sent appeal instructions again 04/18/2018 to the original requester. The agency added that they will take no further action in this matter.

05/11/2018 Ms Russel sent an email explaining that I contacted Muckrock for help because I did not receive anything from the agency.

I have not received anything despite the agency informing me several times that they have sent material 04/01/2018 and instructions to appeal 04/18/2018. I wish to administratively appeal what I consider denial of access to records. The agency possibly quite simply has sent the letters to an out of date address or they disappeared on the way.

In my opinion it cannot be correct to close a case and take no further action when a requester makes it clear that he has not received what the agency has sent. At the moment I am unable to appeal any determination that maybe has been made on F-2016-14639 since I have never received a determination from the agency.

Please reconsider the decision to take no further action and kindly instruct the agency to resend me all releasable material to the following address or solve the dispute in another way:
Dept. MR29735
411A Highland Ave.
Somerville, MA 02144

I expect a response within 20 days as required by law.

Thank you,

Heikki Olavi

I wish to thank you for the documents that I received with a cover letter dated 4-02-2018 for F-2016-14639. I received a total of 84 pages and wonder are there more documents you should have sent or you will send later.

Apparently you have not provided anything for the following parts of my request:

1)The English Teaching Assistant program plan for Sri Lanka approved by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. (Section 111.1 of the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board policies)

3) A copy of all the final reports submitted by the English Training Assistants/grantees in Sri Lanka starting from year 2010. (Section 132.6 of the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board policies)

5) Copies of the summary minutes of the meetings of the United States Sri Lanka Fulbright Commission for year 2015. ( Section 132.2 of the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board policies)

Kindly explain what the problem is.

You have disclosed a document called "Welcome to Sri Lanka- A Handbook for US Fulbright Grantees" that I had not requested.

Thanking you in advance for your reply.

Heikki Olavi

Heikki Olavi
Dept. MR29735
411A Highland Ave.
Somerville, MA 02144

Chairman
Appeals Review Panel
c/o Information and Privacy Coordinator/Appeals Officer
U.S. Department of State
A/GIS/IPS/PP, SA-2Washington
DC 20522-8100

FOIA APPEAL FOR F-2016-14639

5/23/2018

Dear Sir/Madame,

This is an appeal under the Freedom of Information Act.

Kindly note that I wish to withdraw my earlier appeal dated 5/15/2018.

I sent a FOIA request to Department of State 11/01/2016 regarding English Teaching Assistant Program of United States Sri Lanka Fulbright Commission. My request was acknowledged 11/04/2016 and given Case Control Number F-2016-14639.

I wish to thank the agency for the documents I received with a cover letter dated 4-02-2018 postmarked 5/08/2018. The letter is signed by Eric F. Stein who states that Foreign Service Institute located responsive documents and that these documents were released in full.

The material I received consists of 84 pages but unfortunately does in my opinion not contain all responsive documents. Apparently the agency has not provided anything for the following parts of my request:

1)The English Teaching Assistant program plan for Sri Lanka approved by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. (Section 111.1 of the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board policies)
3) A copy of all the final reports submitted by the English Training Assistants/grantees in Sri Lanka starting from year 2010. (Section 132.6 of the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board policies)
5) Copies of the summary minutes of the meetings of the United States Sri Lanka Fulbright Commission for year 2015. ( Section 132.2 of the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board policies)

The agency has disclosed a document called "Welcome to Sri Lanka- A Handbook for US Fulbright Grantees" that I never requested.

I wish to administratively appeal what I consider denial of access to records that are responsive to my request. If there has been a problem locating responsive documents I suggest that the agency approaches, for instance, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board and United States Sri Lanka Fulbright Commission.

Kindly instruct the agency to locate all documents that are responsive to my request or solve the dispute in another way.

The documents can be mailed to:
Heikki Olavi
Dept. MR29735
411A Highland Ave.
Somerville, MA 02144

I expect a response within 20 days as required by law.

Thanking you in advance.

Heikki Olavi

Hello,

The FOIA appeal copied below was sent to your office on May 23, 2018 and has not received an acknowledgement. Could you please confirm that it was received and is being processed?

Thank you.

________________

Heikki Olavi
Dept. MR29735
411A Highland Ave.
Somerville, MA 02144

Chairman
Appeals Review Panel
c/o Information and Privacy Coordinator/Appeals Officer
U.S. Department of State
A/GIS/IPS/PP, SA-2Washington
DC 20522-8100

FOIA APPEAL FOR F-2016-14639

5/23/2018

Dear Sir/Madame,

This is an appeal under the Freedom of Information Act.

Kindly note that I wish to withdraw my earlier appeal dated 5/15/2018.

I sent a FOIA request to Department of State 11/01/2016 regarding English Teaching Assistant Program of United States Sri Lanka Fulbright Commission. My request was acknowledged 11/04/2016 and given Case Control Number F-2016-14639.

I wish to thank the agency for the documents I received with a cover letter dated 4-02-2018 postmarked 5/08/2018. The letter is signed by Eric F. Stein who states that Foreign Service Institute located responsive documents and that these documents were released in full.

The material I received consists of 84 pages but unfortunately does in my opinion not contain all responsive documents. Apparently the agency has not provided anything for the following parts of my request:

1)The English Teaching Assistant program plan for Sri Lanka approved by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. (Section 111.1 of the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board policies)
3) A copy of all the final reports submitted by the English Training Assistants/grantees in Sri Lanka starting from year 2010. (Section 132.6 of the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board policies)
5) Copies of the summary minutes of the meetings of the United States Sri Lanka Fulbright Commission for year 2015. ( Section 132.2 of the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board policies)

The agency has disclosed a document called "Welcome to Sri Lanka- A Handbook for US Fulbright Grantees" that I never requested.

I wish to administratively appeal what I consider denial of access to records that are responsive to my request. If there has been a problem locating responsive documents I suggest that the agency approaches, for instance, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board and United States Sri Lanka Fulbright Commission.

Kindly instruct the agency to locate all documents that are responsive to my request or solve the dispute in another way.

The documents can be mailed to:
Heikki Olavi
Dept. MR29735
411A Highland Ave.
Somerville, MA 02144

I expect a response within 20 days as required by law.

Thanking you in advance.

Heikki Olavi

Katrina Wood,

Thank you for your reply. Unfortunately the dates of correspondence you mention in your reply appear incorrect.

I sent my first appeal 05/15/2018 (not 05/13/2018 as you mention) and it was later withdrawn because the material arrived. Kindly ignore the first Appeal.

My second appeal was dated 05/23/2018 and sent 05/23/2018. Since there was no acknowledgment it was faxed again 06/05/2018.

From your kind reply I deduct that the FOIA Requester Service Center and the Appeals Officer have not received the Appeal dated 05/23/2018. The Appeal was sent twice to the Appeals Officer who apparently received only a letter to withdraw the first Appeal.

Please find the above mentioned Appeal below and acknowledge the fact that it has arrived.

Thank you in advance.

Heikki Olavi

Heikki Olavi
Dept. MR29735
411A Highland Ave.
Somerville, MA 02144

Chairman
Appeals Review Panel
c/o Information and Privacy Coordinator/Appeals Officer
U.S. Department of State
A/GIS/IPS/PP, SA-2Washington
DC 20522-8100

FOIA APPEAL FOR F-2016-14639

5/23/2018

Dear Sir/Madame,

This is an appeal under the Freedom of Information Act.

Kindly note that I wish to withdraw my earlier appeal dated 5/15/2018.

I sent a FOIA request to Department of State 11/01/2016 regarding English Teaching Assistant Program of United States Sri Lanka Fulbright Commission. My request was acknowledged 11/04/2016 and given Case Control Number F-2016-14639.

I wish to thank the agency for the documents I received with a cover letter dated 4-02-2018 postmarked 5/08/2018. The letter is signed by Eric F. Stein who states that Foreign Service Institute located responsive documents and that these documents were released in full.

The material I received consists of 84 pages but unfortunately does in my opinion not contain all responsive documents. Apparently the agency has not provided anything for the following parts of my request:

1)The English Teaching Assistant program plan for Sri Lanka approved by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. (Section 111.1 of the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board policies)
3) A copy of all the final reports submitted by the English Training Assistants/grantees in Sri Lanka starting from year 2010. (Section 132.6 of the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board policies)
5) Copies of the summary minutes of the meetings of the United States Sri Lanka Fulbright Commission for year 2015. ( Section 132.2 of the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board policies)

The agency has disclosed a document called "Welcome to Sri Lanka- A Handbook for US Fulbright Grantees" that I never requested.

I wish to administratively appeal what I consider denial of access to records that are responsive to my request. If there has been a problem locating responsive documents I suggest that the agency approaches, for instance, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board and United States Sri Lanka Fulbright Commission.

Kindly instruct the agency to locate all documents that are responsive to my request or solve the dispute in another way.

The documents can be mailed to:
Heikki Olavi
Dept. MR29735
411A Highland Ave.
Somerville, MA 02144

I expect a response within 20 days as required by law.

Thanking you in advance.

Heikki Olavi

To Whom it May Concern,
Please provide an update on and, if possible, an estimated date of completion for the attached FOIA appeal.
Thank you.

Thank you for the reply.

Does the Appeals Officer or Appeals Board have an e-mail address?

Where were the responsive documents located and by whom?

Please note that requests F-2017-04455 and F-2018-00436 may have a similar problem regarding where to locate responsive documents. May I humbly suggest that FSI or others locating responsive documents approach, for instance, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board and United States Sri Lanka Fulbright Commission in order to avoid further delays and need to appeal.

Thank you.

Heikki Olavi

What is the status of my request? Thank you.

Please let me know what is the status of my request. Thank you.

What is going on with my request? Thank you.

Thank you for your reply.

Is the Institute of International Education (IIE) not covered by FOIA?

According to Section 132.6 of the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board policies "Final reports shall be
made available, as appropriate, to the Board, U.S. Department of State, cooperating agencies,
and Commissions and/or posts." I find it very difficult to believe that the IIE has the only copies of the final reports. The Board, Department of State and/or the Commission should have a copy. How can I appeal?

Thank you for your reply. I do not believe that the Institute of International Education (IIE) has the only copies of the Final Reports. Can I appeal or do something else to receive copies of the Final Reports from the other authorities?

Hello,

Please see the following request for records. I would like to know the current status. Thank you for your help with this request.

Sincerely,
MuckRock