Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
Student Rights under FERPA
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect to their own education records. These rights include:
1. The right to inspect and review student education records
within 45 days of the day the College receives a request for access.
Students should submit to the Office of the Registrar written requests
that identify the record(s) they wish to inspect. The Registrar will
make arrangements for access and notify the students of the time and
place where the records may be inspected. The College reserves the right
to deny a copy of a student education record (including, without limitation,
a transcript) for which a financial “hold” exists (a hold is imposed
if the student fails to pay bills, fees or fines owed to the College).
A hold will not interfere with the right to visually examine student
education records. Questions about the College’s policies and practices
relating to the Act should be addressed to the Office of the Registrar.
2. The right to request amendment of student education records
that students believe are inaccurate or misleading.
Students should write the College Registrar, clearly identify the part
of the records they want changed, and specify why the records are inaccurate
or misleading. If the College decides not to amend the records as requested,
it will notify the students of the decision and advise the students
of their right to a hearing. Additional information regarding the hearing
procedures will be provided to the students when they are notified of
the right to a hearing.
3. The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable
information contained in student 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 a student education record in order to fulfill his or
her professional responsibility. Upon request, the College may disclose
student education records without consent to officials of another school
in which a student seeks or intends to enroll. Finally, personally identifiable
“directory information” may be released freely unless the student files
the appropriate form requesting that such information not be released.
This form is available at the Office of the Registrar. Directory information
includes the following:
- Name
- Gender
- Local address and telephone number
- Permanent address and telephone number
- College e-mail address
- Date and place of birth
- Major and minor field(s) of study, including the division or program in which a student is enrolled
- Classification as a freshman, sophomore, junior, senior or graduate, or by number referring to such classes
- Course load, e.g., full-time or part-time
- Participation in officially recognized activities
- Dates of attendance and graduation, and degrees received
- Most recent previous educational institution attended
- Honors and awards received, including selection to a Dean’s list or honorary organization
4. 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 are:
Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202-4605