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The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, commonly referred to as FERPA, is a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. ���ϲ����� (“College”) is to inform enrolled students annually of their rights under the terms of the FERPA. The information below is provided in accordance with FERPA notification requirements. The act does not apply to students admitted to the College who have not officially enrolled. Enrolled students have the following rights under the Act:

A. Policy Intent

1. The College student record policy is intended to conform with all state and federal statutes dealing with access to information held by an educational institution on present and former students. 
2. The College student record policy is formulated to protect the privacy of that student information that is maintained and yet provide access to student records for those having a legitimate purpose to view such records. Regulations and procedures to ensure adequate protection of the student are provided in this policy. 
3. Copies of this policy are available upon request from the Registrar, who is responsible for the administration of the student record policy.

B. Student Education Records

1. “Education Records” refers to those files and their contents that are maintained by the College and which directly relate to a student. “Education Records” do not include: 
   a.  Records which are in the sole possession of the maker thereof, are used only as a personal memory aid, and which are not accessible or revealed to any person except a temporary substitute of the maker of the record;
   b.  Records of the Admission Office concerning students admitted but not yet enrolled at the College;
   c.  Records of a student regardless of age that are made or maintained by a physician, psychiatrist, psychologist, or other recognized professional or paraprofessional made in connection with treatment of the student and only disclosed to persons providing treatment. Such records are, however, reviewable by a physician or psychologist of the student’s choice upon proper notice and consent;
   d.  Records of a law enforcement unit of the College;
   e.  Records relating to an individual who is employed by the College except students employed by the College as a result of their status as students.

C. Access to Student Records by an Eligible Student or Parents* of Non-Eligible Students

1. Students over the age of 18 and who are enrolled in the College (“Eligible Students”) and parents of students who have not reached the age of 18 (“parents of non-Eligible Students") have the right to inspect the student’s Education Records (as defined in B.1 above). The Eligible Student or parent of a non-Eligible Student must submit a request to the appropriate College official (as defined in Section B.6 below) to review the Education Records specifying the record to be reviewed. The Eligible Student or parent of a non-Eligible Student may request a reasonable explanation or interpretation of the applicable record in writing to the appropriate College official. Students may inspect and review their educational records within 45 days from the day the Colleges receives a written request for access. 
2. The College will disclose information in an Eligible Student’s Education Records, including financial and disciplinary records, to the student's parents either (a) upon an Eligible Student’s written consent, or (b) without the Eligible Student’s consent, to parents of a dependent student as defined in Section 152 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. The student’s age and parents’ custodial status are not factors in determining dependency. If either parent claims the student as a dependent on tax returns, then either parent may be afforded access to the student’s Education Records. 
3. Generally, Eligible Students have the right to review any Education Records that the College maintains on them. Information to which the Eligible Student does not have access is limited to the following:
   a.  Confidential letters or statements of recommendation placed in the student’s files if the student has signed a waiver of the right to review the letters or statements, and those letters or statements are related to:
        i) admission to an educational institution;
        ii) application for employment;
        iii) receipt of an honor or honorary recognition.
   b.  Parents’ confidential financial statements.
4. Documents submitted to the College by or for the student will not be returned to the student. Normally, academic records received from other institutions will not be sent to third parties external to the College. Such records should be requested by the student from the originating institution to be sent to the appropriate third party. 
5. Official records and transcripts of the College (signature and/or seal affixed) are mailed directly to other institutions or agencies at the student’s request. When circumstances warrant, official records may be given directly to the student at the discretion of the proper College official. In such cases, the record will be clearly marked to indicate issuance to the student. 
6. Only the following individuals are permitted to receive requests for records and to allow access to records: Registrar, Director of Advising and Academic Success, Director of Counseling Services, Director of Financial Aid, Dean of Students, Provost, and the President of the College.
   
   *For these purposes, the term parents includes parents, legal guardians, or any individuals acting as parents in assuming the responsibilities for minors. 

D. Procedure for Requesting Amendment to Record

1. Should an Eligible Student or parent of a non-Eligible Student believe information contained in the student’s Education Records is incorrect, a written request should be submitted to the appropriate College official as set forth in B.6. requesting that the record be amended. The appropriate official will respond within a reasonable period as to whether the amendment will be allowed. If the amendment is not allowed, the Eligible Student or parent of a non-Eligible Student may request a hearing before the Registrar.

E. Access to General Directory Information

1. Certain information may be released by the College without prior consent of an Eligible Student or parent of a non-Eligible Student if considered appropriate by designated officials. Such information is limited to the following:
   a.  Student’s name, address, telephone number (permanent and local);
   b.  Date and place of birth;
   c.  Dates of attendance at the College, major fields of study, current classification, degrees, honors, and awards;
   d.  Previous schools attended and degrees awarded;
   e.  Heights and weights of members of athletic teams;
   f.  Participation in officially recognized activities;
   g.  E-mail address;
   h.  Class schedule/roster;
   i.  Full or part-time status;
   j.  Photograph.
2. Students who wish to have any type of directory information (listed above) excluded from release must notify the Registrar by the first day of the semester the change would take effect. 
3. General Directory Information will not be released for commercial purposes by administrative offices of the College under any circumstances. Students may request that General Directory Information not be released by written request to the Office of the Registrar.

F. Access to Personally Identifiable Information

1. An Eligible Student or parent of a non-Eligible Student must authorize the release of Personally Identifiable Information through written consent, except as provided in Section G below, to anyone other than the Eligible Student or parent of a non-Eligible Student. “Personally Identifiable Information” includes the student’s name, the name of the student’s parent or other family members, the address of the student or student’s family, a personal identifier, such as a Social Security number or student identification number, a list of personal characteristics that would make the student’s identity easily traceable; or other information that would make the student’s identity easily traceable. The written consent must state:
   a.  The records which may be disclosed;
   b.  The purpose of the disclosure;
   c.  The party or class of parties to whom the disclosure may be made.

G. Access to Education Records and Personally Identifiable Information by Others without Consent

1. Access to Education Records and Personally Identifiable Information, without an Eligible Student’s or parents of a non-Eligible Student’s permission is permissible in certain circumstances set forth below:
   a.  Information designated as Directory Information;
   b.  To other school officials, including teachers, within the College whom the College has determined have a legitimate educational interest;
   c.  To officials of another institution where the student seeks or intends to enroll;
   d.  To authorized representatives of certain government agencies including appropriate state officials and authorities pursuant to federal and state law;
   e.  In connection with financial aid for which the student has applied or which the student has received, if the information is necessary for such purposes as:
        i)  To determine eligibility for the aid;
        ii)  To determine the amount of the aid;
        iii)  To determine the conditions for the aid;
        iv)  To enforce the terms and conditions of the aid.
   f.  To organizations conducting studies for, or on behalf of, the College to:
        i)  develop, validate, or administer predictive tests;
        ii)  administer student aid programs; or
        iii)  improve instruction provided that the study is conducted in a manner that does not permit personal identification of parents or students by third persons and the information is destroyed once the information is no longer needed.
   g.  To accrediting organizations to carry out their accrediting functions;
   h.  Pursuant to a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena upon notice of the order or subpoena to the Eligible Student or parent of a non-Eligible Student;
   i.  In connection with a health or safety emergency;
   j.  The final results of any disciplinary proceeding conducted by the College with respect to a crime of violence or a non-forcible sex offense and only to the victim of the alleged crime;
   k.  In connection with a disciplinary proceeding at the College provided that the College does not disclose the information unless the student is the alleged perpetrator of a violent or non-forcible sex offense, or the student has committed a violation of the institution’s policies or rules;
   l.  To the parent of a student under the age of 21 regarding the student’s violation of any law or policy governing the use or possession of alcohol or a controlled substance if the College determines the student has violated its policy;
2. All other student information will be released only upon written request of an Eligible Student. When access is permitted, documents will be examined only under conditions that will prevent unauthorized removal, alteration, or mutilation.

H. Complaints

1. An Eligible Student or parent of a non-Eligible Student may file a written complaint with the Family Policy Compliance Office in the U.S. Department of Education (FPCO) regarding an alleged violation under FERPA. The complaint must contain specific allegations of fact giving reasonable cause to believe that a violation of FERPA has occurred. The complaint must be filed within 180 days of the date of the alleged violation unless extended by the FPCO for good cause shown.