The South Carolina Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) provides access to certain public records to South Carolina citizens upon request (see South Carolina Code of Laws Section 30-4-15). Coastal Carolina University does not actively share or release any personal information about an individual except to comply with an applicable law or legal process, or to protect the personal safety of the University community or the general public. However, because Coastal Carolina University is a public institution, information or documents in the possession of CCU may be subject to release through the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act.
Information
- FOIA Officer
- Singleton Building Suite 224
642 Century Circle
Conway, SC 29526
843-349-2927 (fax) - FOIA Request Form
- FOIA@coastal.edu(email)
Coastal Carolina University will respond to requests for University records in accordance with the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act (hereinafter “FOIA”). (S.C. Code of Laws § 30-4-10 et seq. as amended)
All requests for records must me made using the FOIA Request Form and submitted to foia@coastal.edu.
In response to a submitted FOIA Request Form, Coastal Carolina University will notify the requestor as to the public availability of the requested records and if records are produced, they will be produced in accordance with SC Code of Laws § 30-4-30(C). Records or portions of records not considered public under FOIA and/or any other applicable law will be withheld and/or redacted.
Coastal Carolina University will charge for the search, retrieval, and redaction of records (see S.C. Code of Laws §30-4-30(B))
- Electronic Records- Coastal Carolina University will charge the number of hours required to search for and retrieve electronic records at the rate of $25.00 per hour. A flat fee of $6.00 will be charged for the search and retrieval of records previously released pursuant to a Freedom of Information Act request.
- Hard Copy Records- Coastal Carolina University will charge the number of hours required to search for and retrieve hard copy records at the rate of $25.00 per hour and a per page charge for copies at $.25 per page.
- Redaction of Records- If any responsive records or portions of responsive records contain information that is not considered public under FOIA and/or any other applicable law, Coastal Carolina University will charge the number of hours required to redact the records at the rate of $40.65 per hour.
- Deposit- Coastal Carolina University will require a 25% deposit of the total reasonable anticipated cost for reproduction and redactions, if necessary, of the requested records prior to beginning any search for the requested record(s).
- Other Charges- In some cases there may be additional charges for actual costs incurred in order to respond to a particular request. Examples of these charges include, but are not limited to, postage/mailing costs if hard copies are requested via mail and costs incurred to search for records if someone with specialized knowledge or skills is required to conduct the search, such as forms of electronic date and necessary third-party expenses.
Coastal Carolina University is not required to create an electronic version of a public record when one does not exist in order to fulfill a records request. (S.C. Code of Laws §30-4-30 (A)(2))