The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect to their education records.

 

These rights are:

 

1. The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days of the day RRC receives a request for access. Students should submit to the vice president for administration a written request that identifies the record(s) they wish to inspect. The vice president for administration will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. RRC is not required to provide copies of records unless, for reasons such as great distance, it is impossible for students to review the records. RRC may charge a fee for copies.

 

2. The right to request the amendment of any part of the student’s education records that the student believes is inaccurate, misleading or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy rights under FERPA. The student should write to the vice president for administration indicating which RRC official is responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record the student wants changed, and specify why it should be changed.

 

If RRC decides not to amend the record as requested, RRC 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.

 

3. The right to provide written consent before RRC discloses personally identifiable information from the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.

 

RRC discloses education records without a student’s prior written consent under the FERPA exception for disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is defined as a person employed by RRC in an administrative, supervisory, academic or support staff position (including law enforcement unit personnel and health staff); a person or company with whom RRC has contracted as its agent to provide a service instead of using RRC employees or officials (such as an attorney, an auditor or a collection agent); a person serving on the board of governors; or a student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee; or someone assisting another school official in performing his/her tasks.

 

A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his/her professional responsibility for the college.

 

Upon request, RRC discloses education records without consent to officials of another school in which a student seeks or intends to enroll. RRC will make a reasonable attempt to notify the student of such a disclosure.

 

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

 

Family Policy Compliance Office

U.S. Department of Education

400 Maryland Avenue, S.W.

Washington, DC 20202-4605

 

RRC may disclose, without consent, “directory” information such as a student’s name, address, telephone number, date and place of birth, honors and awards, dates of attendance, photo and other biographical information. However, RRC will inform students about directory information and allow students approximately two weeks at the beginning of each academic year to opt out of disclosure of such information. If students opt out, they will not be included on the list of RRC students.