Privacy Rights of Students: FERPA
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect to their education records.
These rights include:
- The right to inspect and review the student's education records within 45 days of
the day the College receives a request for access. Students should submit to the registrar, dean, head of the academic department, or
other appropriate official, written requests that identify the record(s) they wish
to inspect. The College official will make arrangements for access and notify the
student of the time and place where the
records may be inspected. If the records are not maintained by the College official to whom the request was submitted, that official shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be
addressed. - The right to request the amendment of the student's education records that the student believes are inaccurate or misleading. Students may ask the College to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading. They should write the College official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. If the College decides not to amend the record as requested by the student, the College will notify the student of the decision and advise the student of his or her right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the student when notified of the right to a hearing.
- The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student's education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. One exception, which permits disclosure without consent, is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the College in an administrative, supervisory, academic or research, or support staff position (including law enforcement unit personnel and health staff); a person or company with whom the College has contracted (such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent); a person serving on the Board of Trustees; or a student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility.
- The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the College to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA is: Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, DC, 20202-4605.
The Act provides that the College may release certain types of "Directory Information" unless the student submits a request in writing to the Registrar that certain or all such information not be released without his/her consent. Currently enrolled students may request that "Directory Information" be withheld by notifying the Registrar in writing each term or semester.
External entities have access to only the following directory information:
- Student’s name and dates of attendance.
- Student participation in officially recognized activities and sports including weight, height and high school of graduation of athletic team members.
- Degrees and awards received, including honors, scholarship awards, athletic awards and Dean’s List recognition.
Sole possession records are not considered part of the education record and are not subject to FERPA.
Appropriate college personnel as noted in No. 3 above have access to full address information.
The Federal Solomon Act requires colleges to release full directory information (including address) to U.S. Armed Forces.
A copy of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (Sec. 438, P.L. 93-380) is available in the Office of Admissions & Records.