The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords eligible students certain rights with respect to their educational records. An “eligible student” under FERPA is a student who is 18 years of age or older or who attends a postsecondary institution.
THESE RIGHTS INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:
- The right to inspect and review the student’s educational records within 45 days after the day the College receives a request for access.
A student should submit to the registrar, or other appropriate official, a written request that identifies the record(s) the student wishes to inspect. The College official 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, the official shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed.
- The right to request the amendment of the student’s educational record(s) that the student believes is inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy rights under FERPA.
A student who wishes to ask the College to amend a record should write the Registrar or other appropriate official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record the student wants changed, and specify why it should be changed.
- If the College decides not to amend the record as requested, the College will notify the student in writing of the decision and the student’s 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.
The right to provide written consent before the College discloses personally identifiable information (PII) from the student’s educational records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.
- The College discloses educational records without a student’s prior written consent under the FERPA exception for disclosure to College officials with legitimate educational interests. A College official is a person employed by Baker College in an administrative, supervisory, academic, research, or support staff position (including law enforcement unit personnel and health staff); a person serving on the board of trustees; or a student serving on an official committee such as a disciplinary or grievance committee. A College official also may include a volunteer or contractor outside of Baker College who performs an institutional service or function for which the College would otherwise use its own employees and who is under the direct control of the College with respect to the use and maintenance of PII from educational records such as an attorney, auditor, collection agent, or a student volunteering to assist another College official in performing his or her tasks. A College 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. Upon request, the College also discloses educational records without consent to officials of another College in which a student seeks or intends to enroll.
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 is the Family Policy Compliance Office, US Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave. SW, Washington, D.C., 20202
5. Students who wish to grant another person access to their records can do so by filling out a FERPA Release form.