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FOIA Request to Ohio State Board of Career Colleges and Schools Regarding Financial Aid Fraud on May 7, 2025.
As part of our ongoing commitment to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, we at Buckeye Reporter have submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the Ohio State Board of Career Colleges and Schools. Our request seeks detailed records concerning financial aid fraud within colleges under their jurisdiction.
According to a recent article from CalMatters, California community colleges are facing an escalating issue with financial aid fraud. It has been reported that bots comprise 25% of applicants, with scammers—often referred to as "Pell runners"—exploiting artificial intelligence to secure grants before disappearing. This fraudulent activity has cost schools over $5 million since 2021, despite enhanced detection efforts. The persistence of this fraud is overwhelming online classes and challenging existing cybersecurity measures.
In light of these revelations, we are seeking information from the Ohio State Board regarding whether they track similar instances of financial aid fraud. Specifically, we have requested data points including the college name, applicant name, fraud amount, and the date of each fraud incident.
As members of the media involved in gathering and reporting news to the public, access to public records is essential for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities. These include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public. Given our role in disseminating information, we believe we are eligible for a fee waiver as media professionals.
Additionally, this request is supported by The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy—a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting news media companies in investigating state and federal governmental agencies through Freedom of Information and Sunshine Laws.
We look forward to receiving the requested information promptly so that we can continue informing the public about important issues affecting educational institutions.
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