Student Privacy Rights

What is FERPA?

FERPA is the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, more commonly know as the Buckley Amendment. This federal law protects students' rights to privacy regarding their educational records. With limited exceptions, FERPA applies to all records maintained about a student and is not limited to a student's academic records.

What does FERPA do?

FERPA gives college and university students (1) the right to inspect and review their education records, (2) the right to request an amendment to their record under certain circumstances; and (3) it limits the right of the college to release records or information without the student's consent. Colleges are required to give annual notification to students regarding these rights. TCC provides notification via the college catalog and the student handbook.

Who is protected by FERPA?

All college students have rights under FERPA, even those who are younger than 18 years of age. FERPA protects the education records of students who are attending or who have attended the institution. Upon enrollment, the education records of each student, including the student's application for admissions and all related materials, become automatically protected.

What records are protected?

FERPA protects all records directly related to a student and that are maintained by the institution. A record is "directly related" to a student if it is personally identifiable to the student. Such documents may include transcripts, financial aid records, letters of recommendation or reprimand, class schedules, department and college files, electronic records and e-mail, and disciplinary files.

What is directory information?

FERPA allows institutions to designate certain classes of information that may be released without the student's consent. This information is commonly known as "directory information." The following information may be released to anyone unless a student specifies in writing to the director of enrollment services that the information is not to be released.

• Student's name
• Place of birth
• Major field of study
• Participation in recognized activities and sports
• Degrees, academic honors, and awards
• Dates of attendance
• Enrollment Status (i.e., full-time, part-time)
• Photographs*
• Previous schools attended

*Although TCC has designated photographs as directory information, these will appear only in TCC generated information such as College publications and on the College website.

While this information is considered directory information, all employees are encouraged to contact the Dean of Enrollment Management prior to releasing any student information. Students do have the right to request in writing that the college not release even directory information about them. Students wishing to block the release of any information may complete a form in the Enrollment Services and Student Success. A hold is placed on the student's academic record in the student records system. FERPA permits the disclosure of student information to other personnel within the college if the person is authorized under college policy to view the information. Typically, those authorized to receive student information are faculty and administrative and clerical employees who manage student records information, who act in the student's educational interests, or who have a demonstrated need to know the content of the records.