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FOIA Request to Community College System of New Hampshire Regarding Financial Aid Fraud on May 7, 2025.
As part of our ongoing commitment to uncovering and reporting on issues affecting local governmental affairs, we at Granite State Times have submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the Community College System of New Hampshire. Our request seeks detailed records related to financial aid fraud within the state’s community colleges.
The request specifically asks for data points including the college name, applicant name, fraud amount, and the date of each fraud incident. This inquiry is prompted by recent reports indicating that California community colleges are grappling with escalating financial aid fraud cases. These incidents reportedly involve “Pell runners” who exploit artificial intelligence to secure grants and then disappear, resulting in significant financial losses for educational institutions.
Our goal is to determine whether similar fraudulent activities are occurring within New Hampshire’s community colleges and how these institutions are tracking and addressing such incidents. As members of the media, we play a crucial role in holding public institutions accountable and ensuring transparency for the public.
In line with our mission, we have requested this information under the Right to Know Law (RSA. 91-A), emphasizing our eligibility for a fee waiver as media professionals dedicated to informing the public. We believe that access to these records will help us provide comprehensive coverage on this pressing issue and its impact on educational institutions in New Hampshire.
We remain committed to leveraging Freedom of Information and Sunshine Laws through our affiliation with The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy. This non-profit organization supports news media companies in investigating state and federal governmental agencies, aiming to shed light on government actions for the American electorate.
