Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

Summary

FERPA affords students certain rights with respect to their educational records. A summary of these rights is outlined below.

Your Rights

1. The right to inspect and review the student's records within 45 days of the date NSCC received a request for access. Students should submit to the Records Office written requests that identify the record(s) they wish to inspect. The Director of Enrollment and Student Records will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected.

2. The right to request the amendment of the student's education records that the student believes are inaccurate or misleading. Students may ask NSCC to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading. The student must clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. If NSCC decides not to amend the record as requested by the student, NSCC 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. 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 which permits disclosure without consent is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school offi44 NSCC Student Handbook 2007-2008 cial is a person employed by NSCC 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 NSCC 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.

4. NSCC has designated certain types of information as "directory information." This includes the student's name, address, degree program, and enrollment status. Students may request to restrict release of this information, and this data will not be released except as authorized by law. REQUESTS TO RESTRICT "DIRECTORY INFORMATION" MUST BE MADE IN WRITING TO THE RECORDS OFFICE. A STUDENT MUST NOTIFY THE College's Records Office in writing within two (2) weeks of the beginning of each semester if s/he does not wish to have any or some of his/her student information designated as "Directory Information." The College assumes that failure of any student to do so indicates approval for release. Once requested, the student's record will be flagged confidential, and we will release no information to any requestor under any circumstances except as authorized by FERPA, such as a Court Order. The request will remain in place for one year. Not withstanding the College's definition of directory information, the Department of Defense, (DOD) pursuant to the Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act of 1997, (The Solomon Amendment), identifies the following information as "student recruiting information:" student name, address, and telephone listing; and if known, student's age, level of education, and major. If the College receives a request for student recruiting from the DOD or one of its affiliated agencies, the College will release the student recruiting information requested. Because the information sought by the DOD may include information not designated as Directory Information under the College's policy, compliance with the DOD's request may result in the release of personally identifiable information. When student-recruiting information is released pursuant to the DOD request, notice of the request and the release of the information will be posted in a conspicuous location in the College's Records Office for a period equaling an academic year. If a student has exercised his or her right to request that no information (See #4) be designated "Directory Information", then no information will be released to any third party, including the DOD.

5. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by NSCC to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the office that administers FERPA are:

NSCC Student Handbook 2007-2008 45
Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
600 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202-4605