Charleston - MUSC

Dear Ellen:
The College of Charleston has received your FOIA request for publicly-available records regarding any signed and/ or executed contract between the College of Charleston and the Medical University of South Carolina.
With regard to your request, please be advised that the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act provides access to certain limited public records to citizens of the State of South Carolina upon request.
The College of Charleston does not actively share or release any information, unless required for compliance with applicable law.
It is noted that you are not a citizen of our State and are affiliated with an out-of-state entity and firm.
Therefore, you lack standing under our FOIA statute to make a request for enforcement under our FOIA laws.
In addition, pursuant to the South Carolina Procurement Code, Section 11-35-410 (A) and (B), any material designated as confidential, privileged or a "Trade Secret" by a responsive bidder, is not subject to disclosure under State law.
Therefore, any material designated to be within this category or falling under the privacy or trade secret exemption of FOIA cannot be provided.
In South Carolina, in addition to FOIA and FERPA laws, as a State-funded Public College, we also fall under the jurisdiction of the South Carolina Family Privacy Protection Act.
Pursuant to this separate and additional law, which we are required to comply with and provide notice of, it is forbidden to knowingly obtain or use personal information from an Agency of the State, which we are, for commercial solicitation directed to any person in this State. (See section 30-2-50, Code of Laws of South Carolina, as amended).
Your request, as referenced above, is declined.
The above constitutes the final determination of the College regarding this matter.
Sincerely,
Angela B. Mulholland
General Counsel
Office of Legal Affairs
College of Charleston
66 George Street
Charleston, S.C. 29424-0001
mulhollandab@cofc.edu<mailto:mulhollandab@cofc.edu>
(843) 953-5502 (Office)
(843) 953-7358 (Facsimile)

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THANK-YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION.