Great Lakes Wire

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FOIA Request to Michigan Department of Education Regarding Financial Aid Fraud on May 7, 2025.

As part of our commitment to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, Great Lakes Wire has submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the Michigan Department of Education. Our request seeks detailed records concerning financial aid fraud within colleges, an issue that has been escalating and causing significant financial losses.

The request specifically asks for data points related to incidents of financial aid fraud, including the names of colleges involved, applicant names, fraud amounts, and the dates these incidents occurred. This inquiry is driven by reports from California community colleges where scammers, often referred to as "Pell runners," have exploited artificial intelligence tools to secure grants fraudulently. These fraudulent activities have resulted in substantial financial losses exceeding $5 million since 2021.

We believe that transparency in this matter is crucial for holding public institutions accountable and ensuring the integrity of educational funding processes. As members of the media and The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy—a non-profit organization dedicated to investigating governmental actions—we are committed to leveraging Freedom of Information laws to inform the public and enhance accountability.

Our role in disseminating information makes us eligible for a fee waiver under FOIA provisions, allowing us to fulfill our professional responsibilities without undue financial burden. We anticipate a timely response from the Michigan Department of Education and will continue to update our audience as more information becomes available.