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The Family Educational Rights and Privacy act of 1974 (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect to their education records. They are:
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 record 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.
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.
One exception which permits disclosure without consent is the 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.
Family Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
600 Independence Avenue S.W.
Washington, DC 20202-4605
According to FERPA, its amendments and the final rule of the U.S. Department of Education, the only information which may be released without the student's written consent is directory information.
Directory information includes name, address, phone number, date and place of birth, major field of study, participation in athletic programs, weight and height of athletic team members, most recent previous school attended, dates of attendance, degrees awarded, photographs, e-mail address and enrollment status.