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FOIA Request to South Dakota Board Of Regents Regarding Colleges Financial Aid Fraud on May 7, 2025.
As part of our ongoing commitment to uncovering and reporting on governmental affairs, we at Rushmore State News have submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the South Dakota Board Of Regents. This request seeks detailed records concerning financial aid fraud within colleges under their jurisdiction.
The inquiry was prompted by a recent report highlighting escalating financial aid fraud in California community colleges, where it was revealed that bots accounted for 25% of applicants. These fraudulent activities, carried out by individuals known as "Pell runners," exploit artificial intelligence to secure grants before disappearing with the funds. Since 2021, this has resulted in over $5 million in losses for educational institutions.
Our request specifically asks whether the South Dakota Board Of Regents tracks incidents of financial aid fraud. If such data is available, we have requested information including the college name, applicant name, fraud amount, and the date of each incident.
Access to these public records is crucial for us as members of the media. It enables us to hold public institutions accountable and provide transparency to the public. In line with our mission and professional responsibilities, we have also requested a fee waiver given our role in disseminating important information.
This effort is supported by The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting media companies and advocacy groups in investigating state and federal governmental agencies through Freedom of Information and Sunshine Laws.
We look forward to receiving the requested information and will continue our efforts to inform the public about significant issues affecting our educational institutions.
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