The South Carolina Commission on Higher Education is a public body, as defined by the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) [§§ 30-4-10, et seq.]. Per FOIA provisions in state statute, CHE public records are open to, and available for, public inspection.
FOIA defines public records as “all books, papers, maps, photographs, cards, tapes, recordings, or other documentary materials regardless of physical form or characteristics prepared, owned, used, in the possession of, or retained by a public body.”
The CHE has statutory authority to charge for minimal search and reproduction costs. (Costs include, but are not limited to, all reproduction costs and actual employee compensation.) The agency may determine that the public interest is served by a waiver or reduction of fee.
- How to Submit a FOIA Request
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Except as otherwise provided for under the state FOIA provisions, all requests for CHE public records must be made in writing, and must be submitted in person, by mail, or by email.
Our standard form is provided for your convenience.
The completed form may be submitted via the following methods:
Email: FOIA@che.sc.gov
Mail To/Hand Deliver:
SC Commission on Higher Education
Attn: FOIA
1122 Lady Street, Suite 400
Columbia, SC 29201
- Fees
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The CHE has statutory authority to charge for minimal search and reproduction costs. (Costs include, but are not limited to, all reproduction costs and actual employee compensation.) The agency may determine that the public interest is served by a waiver or reduction of fee. All such decisions will be made by the president and executive director.
Fee Schedule
Cost: The prorated hourly salary of an employee is determined by dividing that employee’s salary by 1,950 hours (or less if part time) and multiplying that figure by the number of hours required to search for, retrieve and redact the requested records.
Example: If providing records requires an employee with a yearly salary of $30,000 four hours to search for, retrieve and redact the requested records, the associated fee would be $61.40 (30,000.00/1,950 x 4), plus any costs of photocopying, postage, fax, and/or electronic storage devices.
Alternate Fees
- Photocopy: $0.20 per page after the first 50 pages.
- Postage: Actual cost.
- Storage Cost (CD, DVD, thumb drive): Actual cost.
Payment should be made in the form of check/money order to:
SC Commission on Higher Education
Attn: Office of Fiscal Affairs
1122 Lady Street, Suite 400
Columbia, SC 29201
- Statutory Links
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Exempt public records, as made thus under the state FOIA provisions and the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), will not be disclosed. To read the complete statutory definition of exempted public records, please consult the full legislative text: