FERPA FOR STUDENTS

What are FERPA rights?

Students have three primary rights under FERPA.  They have rights to inspect and review their education records; have some control over the disclosure of information from their education record, and seek to amend their education records, under certain circumstances.

When do FERPA rights begin?

Once students have matriculated to Mineral Area College, i.e. enrolled in course work, FERPA rights transfer to the student, regardless of the student’s age and regardless of who is paying for the student’s education.

What are education records?

Under FERPA, education records are defined as records that are directly related to a student and are maintained by an educational agency or institution, or by a third party acting on behalf of the  agency or institution.  Education records can exist in any medium.  Examples include:  handwritten notes, computer files/generated information, printed information, video or audio tapes, film, microfilm or microfiche.

Withholding the release of information

According to FERPA, a student can request, while still enrolled, that the institution not release any directory information about him/her.  Institutions must comply with this request.  At Mineral Area College, students who wish to restrict the release of directory information about them must complete a “Request To Restrict Directory Information” form, available from the Registrar’s Office.  The completed form must be submitted in person to the Registrar’s Office and must be accompanied by a photo I.D.  Students will be required to renew the request at the beginning of each semester.

Students who wish to restrict directory information should realize that THIS ACTION COULD HAVE NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES.  The names of students who have restricted their directory information will not appear in the commencement bulletin and other college publications.  Also, employers, credit card companies, loan agencies, scholarship committees and the like will be denied any of your directory information and will be told:  “I’m sorry, but we have no information available about this person’s attendance at Mineral Area College.”

Parent’s access to a student’s records

At the postsecondary level, parents have no inherent rights to access or inspect their son or daughter’s education records.  The right is limited solely to the student.  At Mineral Area College, records may be released to parents only if they have been given a written release by the student or in compliance with a subpoena.

Crisis situations/Emergencies

If non-directory information is needed to resolve a crisis or emergency situation, an education institution may release that information if the institution determines that the information is “necessary to protect the health or safety of the student or other individuals.”  Factors considered in making this assessment are:  the severity of the threat to the health or safety of those involved; the need for the information; the time required to deal with the emergency; and the parties to whom the information is to be given to deal with the emergency.

Who to contact with questions/concerns

General questions may be directed to the Registrar’s Office, lhuffman@mineralarea.edu, 573-518-2204.

October 2008