The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect to their education records. 

These rights include:

Right to Review Records

The right to inspect and review the student's education records within 45 days of the day the College receives a request for access.

A student should submit to the registrar, VPAA, head of the academic department, or other appropriate official, a written request that identifies the record(s) the student wishes 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.

Right to Amend Records

The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the student believes are inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy rights under FERPA.

A student who wishes to ask the College to amend a record should write the College official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record the student wants changed, and specify why it should be changed.

If the College decides not to amend the record as requested, the College will notify the student in writing of the decision and the student’s 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.

Right to Provide Written Consent

The right to provide written consent before the College discloses personally identifiable information from the student's education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.  Situations under which FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent include, but are not limited to the following: 

• The College discloses education records without a student’s prior written consent under the FERPA exception for 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 Campus Police and Wellness Center staff); a person or company with whom the College has contracted as its agent to provide a service instead of using College employees or officials (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 responsibilities for the College.

• The College may disclose education records without a student’s prior written consent under the FERPA exception for parents that have submitted evidence that they declared the student as a dependant on their most recent Federal Income Tax form.  Disclosure of educational records, once proof of dependency is submitted, is at the College’s discretion.

Right to File a Complaint

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
600 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202-4605

 

This notification adapted with permission from The AACRAO 2006 FERPA Guide.