2020 - 2021 Catalog
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act Of 1974
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect to their education records. These rights include:
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The right to inspect and review the student's education records within 45 days of the day the campus receives a request for access.
Students should submit to the registrar, dean, head of the academic department or other appropriate official, written requests that identify the record(s) they wish to inspect. The campus 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 campus official to whom the request was submitted, that official shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed.
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The right to request the amendment of the student's education records that the student believes is inaccurate.
Students may ask the campus to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate. They should write the campus official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed and specify why it is inaccurate.
If the campus decides not to amend the record as requested by the student, the campus will notify the student of the decision and advise the student of a 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.
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The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student's 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 is a person employed by the campus in an administrative, supervisory, academic or research or support staff position (including campus law enforcement personnel and health staff); a person or company with whom the campus has contracted (such as an attorney, auditor or collection agent); a person serving on the Board of Trustees; or a student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing a task.
A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill the official's professional responsibility.
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The right to file a complaint with U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by Dallas College to comply with the requirements of FERPA. To file a FERPA complaint with the U.S. Department of Education, contact the Office that administers FERPA at:
Family Policy Compliance Office
U .S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20202-5920 -
5. FERPA permits the release of directory information to third parties. The campus has designated the following information as Directory information:
- name;
- home address;
- email address;
- home telephone number;
- field of study;
- photograph;
- dates of attendance;
- enrollment status, i.e., full-time, part-time, undergraduate, graduate;
- degrees, certificates and other honors and awards received;
- the type of award received;
- participation in officially recognized activities and sports;
- weight and height of members of athletic teams;
- student classification; or
- name of the most recent previous institution attended.
The primary purpose of directory information is to allow the campus to disclose this information, without a student's written permission, to the public and/or anyone inquiring in person, by phone, or in writing, and to use this information within the campus. For example, the campus may use the information in campus publications, such as the honor roll or other recognition lists; graduation programs; and sports activity sheets, showing weight and height of team members. Directory information may be provided to outside organizations which include, but are not limited to, companies that manufacture class rings or publish yearbooks, Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, National Society of Collegiate Scholars, and other academic honor societies for students who are eligible to be considered for membership.
The campus may disclose directory information unless the student provides written notice to the campus to protect it from disclosure. This notice is available at the Admissions and Student Records/Registrar's Office upon request. This notification authorizes the campus not to list directory information in its publications or to disclose it to the public. This notice will remain in effect until the student withdraws it. No telephone requests for directory information will be accepted. If a student chooses to withhold any or all directory information, that information cannot be released any other party, including, but not limited to, another institution of education, prospective employer, family, friends, the news media, advisors, student activities, and honors societies. Therefore, if another party seeks confirmation of status as a student, the campus will not be able to provide that information without written consent from the student. The campus is not responsible for anything that may or may not occur as a result of honoring your request to withhold directory information. Transcripts or academic records are not released without a student's written consent except as allowed by law.
Students may request that all or any part of the directory information be withheld from the public by giving written notice to the Registrar's Office during the first 12 class days of a fall or spring semester or the first 4 class days of a summer session. Students may protect their directory information at any time during the academic year if they are unable to provide written notice within these time frames.
Note: If you have elected to withhold directory information, then for information to appear on your transcripts and diploma when you graduate, you must rescind the information hold before you graduate.