Legal Issues

Directory Information Notice

The items listed below are designated as Directory Information and may be released at the discretion of the College. Under the provisions of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, as amended (FERPA), students have the right to withhold the disclosure of any or all of the categories of Directory Information. Written notification to withhold Directory Information must be received by the Registrar.

Directory information includes: the student’s name, address, telephone number, email address, date and place of birth, photograph, major field of study, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of members of athletic teams, dates of attendance, class level (i.e., first-year, second-year), enrollment status (i.e., full-time or part-time status), degrees, honors and awards received, and the most recent previous educational agency or institution attended by the student.

A request to withhold all of Directory Information in no way restricts internal use of the material by the College such as the release of academic information to College officials whose positions justify such release of information to them, or to College committees charged with the selection of students for College and National Honor Societies.

Please see Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) — Privacy of Student Records below for further information.

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) — Privacy of Student Records

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, as amended (FERPA) gives eligible students certain rights to their education records. These rights are:

1. 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 a written request to the department that maintains the record(s) the student wishes to inspect. The department 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 made.
2. The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the student believes are inaccurate or misleading or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy rights under FERPA. Students may ask the College to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy rights under FERPA. They should write to the Registrar, 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. Note: The right to challenge grades does not apply under FERPA unless the grade assigned was inaccurately recorded.
3. 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 that permits disclosure without consent is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is defined as 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 serving on the Board of Trustees; a student serving on an official committee. A school official also may include a volunteer or a person or company with whom the College has contracted as its agent to provide a service or function instead of using College employees or officials and who is under the direct control of the College with respect to the use and maintenance of personally identifiable information from education records (such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent or student volunteering to assist another school official in performing his or her tasks). A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an educational record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibilities for the College.

   FERPA permits the disclosure of personally identifiable information (PII) from students’ education records, without consent of the student, if the disclosure meets certain conditions found in § 99.31 of the FERPA regulations:

   1. To authorized representatives of the U.S. Comptroller General, the U.S. Attorney General, the U.S. Secretary of Education, or State and local educational authorities, such as a State postsecondary authority that is responsible for supervising the State-supported education programs. Disclosures under this provision may be made, subject to the requirements of §99.35, in connection with an audit or evaluation of Federal- or State-supported education programs, or for the enforcement of or compliance with Federal legal requirements that relate to those programs. These entities may make further disclosures of PII to outside entities that are designated by them as their authorized representatives to conduct any audit, evaluation, or enforcement or compliance activity on their behalf. (§§ 99.31(a)(3) and 99.35)

   2. In connection with financial aid for which the student has applied or which the student has received, if the information is necessary to determine eligibility for the aid, determine the amount of the aid, determine the conditions of the aid, or enforce the terms and conditions of the aid. (§ 99.31(a)(4))

   3. To organizations conducting studies for, or on behalf of, the College, in order to: (a) develop, validate, or administer predictive tests; (b) administer student aid programs; or (c) improve instruction. (§ 99.31(a)(6))

   4. To accrediting organizations to carry out their accrediting functions. (§ 99.31(a)(7))

   5. To parents of an eligible student if the student is a dependent for IRS tax purposes. (§ 99.31(a)(8))

   6. To comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena. (§ 99.31(a)(9))

   7. To appropriate officials in connection with a health or safety emergency, subject to § 99.36. (§ 99.31(a)(10))

   8. Information the school has designated as “directory information” under § 99.37. (§ 99.31(a)(11)). Please see the College’s Directory Information Notice above.

   9. To a victim of an alleged perpetrator of a crime of violence or a non-forcible sex offense, subject to the requirements of § 99.39. The disclosure may only include the final results of the disciplinary proceeding with respect to that alleged crime or offense, regardless of the finding. (§ 99.31(a)(13))

   10. To the general public, the final results of a disciplinary proceeding, subject to the requirements of § 99.39, if the College determines the student is an alleged perpetrator of a crime of violence or non-forcible sex offense and the student has committed a violation of the College’s rules or policies with respect to the allegation made against him or her. (§ 99.31(a)(14))

   11. To parents of a student regarding the student’s violation of any Federal, State, or local law, or of any rule or policy of the College, governing the use or possession of alcohol or a controlled substance if the College determines the student committed a disciplinary violation and the student is under the age of 21. (§99.31(a)(15))

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 as they pertain to access and disclosure of student’s education records. Students who believe their rights under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act have been violated may file a written complaint with the

Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
600 Independence Avenue, S.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20202-4605