Notification of Students' Rights Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

Pierce College has adopted procedures in compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), as amended, and maintains confidentiality of student records. FERPA is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student educational records and affords students certain rights with respect to their educational records. Students have the right to:

1. Inspect and review their education records within 45 days of the date the College receives a written request for access. Students should submit a written request to the Registrar that identifies the record(s) they wish to inspect. The Registrar 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 Registrar, the student will be advised of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed.
2. Request the amendment of the education records that the student believes are inaccurate or misleading. 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.
3. Consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student's education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. With few exceptions (stated below), no one will have access to student records without the written consent of the student. Pierce College will not release a student's record to a parent/guardian without the student's written permission. Such a policy is in effect regardless of the student's age or financial dependency upon the parent/guardian.
   
   Exceptions which permit disclosure without written consent include:
   1. Disclosure of those items the College designates as directory information. Pierce College designates the following items as directory information: name, dates of enrollment, degrees, awards and honors received, enrollment status, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, and the weight and height of members of athletic teams. A student's directory information may be disclosed unless a student files a "Request for Non-Disclosure of Directory Information" form with the Registration Office by the tenth day of the quarter (eighth day for summer quarter). Requests submitted after the deadline will be honored; however, disclosure of directory information may have occurred.
   2. 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 support staff position (including law enforcement unit); 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; a student serving on an official committee, such as 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.
   3. Disclosure of education records to officials of another school in which a student seeks or intends to enroll.
   4. Other disclosures permissible without written consent include disclosure to: comply with a judicial order lawfully issued subpoena; specified officials for audit or evaluation purposes; appropriate parties in connection with financial aid to a student; organizations conducting certain studies on behalf of the College; accrediting organizations; appropriate officials in cases of health and safety emergencies; State and local authorities, within a juvenile justice system, pursuant to specific State law; victims of certain offenses the final results of a disciplinary proceeding regardless of the outcome; anyone the final result of a campus disciplinary proceeding in which a violation of certain offenses occurred; parents of a student under age 21 who violates drug or alcohol laws or policies.
   
   Pursuant to the Solomon Amendment, Pierce College is required to provide some or all of the following information, upon request, to representatives of the Department of Defense for military recruiting purposes: student's name, address, telephone listing, date of birth (17 years or older), level of education, and academic major (for currently enrolled students only).
4. 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 D.C. 20202-4605

A copy of the complete FERPA policy is available at the Registration Office.