Annual Notification of Student Privacy Rights under FERPA 2023-2024

Dear Student:

We want to take this opportunity to give you a brief summary of your rights under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), the federal law that governs the release of and access to student education records. These rights include:
 

1. The right to inspect and review your education record within forty-five (45) days or less after the College receives a request for access. If you want to review your record, contact Registration and Enrollment Services to make appropriate arrangements.
    
2. The right to request an amendment of your education record if you believe it is inaccurate or misleading. If you feel there is an error in your record, you should submit a written statement to Registration and Enrollment Services , clearly identifying the part of the record you want to be changed and why you believe it is inaccurate or misleading. Registration and Enrollment Services will consult with the College officials responsible for the record in question and will notify you of the decision in writing (via your CCC student email).  We will also advise you regarding appropriate steps to appeal if you do not agree with the decision.
    
3. The right to consent to the disclosure of personally identifiable information contained in your 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 has a legitimate educational interest if the official has a “need to know” information from your education record in order to fulfill his or her official responsibilities. Examples of people who may have access, depending on their official duties, and only within the context of those duties, include: college faculty and staff, agents of the institution, students employed by the institution or who serve on official institutional committees, and representatives of agencies under contract with the College.
    
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 is:

Notice for Directory Information

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act requires that the College, with certain exceptions, obtain the student’s written consent prior to the disclosure of personally identifiable information from the student’s education records. However, the College may disclose appropriately designated “directory information” without written consent, unless the student has advised the College to the contrary in accordance with College procedures. The primary purpose of directory information is to allow the College to include this type of information from the student’s education records in certain school publications. Examples include the College online directory and Commencement programs.

Directory information, which is information that is generally not considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if released, can also be disclosed to outside organizations without a student’s prior written consent. The College has designated the following information as directory information:

• Student’s name*
• Telephone number*
• Email address*
• Major field of study
• Dates of attendance
• Degree(s) and awards received
• Participation in officially recognized activities
• Most recent previous school attended
• Photograph

Because directory information is considered public, the College may release such information to anyone without student consent if the student has not requested a directory restriction.

*The noted (*) items above can be specifically restricted by the student by contacting Registration and Enrollment Services.

If the student does not want the College to disclose directory information from the student’s education records without prior written consent, the student must notify Registration and Enrollment Services in a written statement that is signed and dated. The student’s request to opt‐out of the disclosure of directory information becomes a permanent part of the student’s education record and continues after the student is no longer in attendance unless the student delivers to the College written and signed instructions to remove the request. Questions about the release or disclosure of a student’s education records under FERPA should be directed to the Registrar and Director of Enrollment Services.