Fisher College complies with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) regarding the access and release of student records and information. FERPA affords students certain rights with respect to their education records:
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The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days of the day the College receives a request for access. Students should submit to the Registrar, Vice President for Academic Affairs, Site Coordinator, or other appropriate official written requests that identify the record(s) they wish to inspect. The College 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 College 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 are inaccurate or misleading.
Students may ask the College to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading. They should write the College official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading.
If the College decides not to amend the record as requested by the student, the College will notify the student of the decision and advise the student of his or her 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 that permits disclosure without consent is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the College in an administrative, supervisory, academic or research, or support staff position (including law enforcement unit personnel and health staff) a person or company with whom the College 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, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record to fulfill his or her professional responsibility.
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The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by Fisher College 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
600 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20202-4605
For the purpose of this Act, Fisher College defines all students as independent. A parent may be awarded the same rights as the student with regard to educational records and other confidential information only if:
- The student signs a written consent to this effect, or
- The parent supplies proof of dependency, as defined in section 152 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, which requires receipt of a certified copy of the parent's most recent Federal Income Tax Form.
The College does not release confidential information to outside parties without the student's written authorization except as required or permitted by law. Students must provide the College with a signed letter before any confidential information will be released.
The following information should be included in the request:
- Name
- Address
- Date of birth
- Student ID or SSN
- Attendance dates
- Major
- Address to which information should be sent
- Signature
The following items, however, are considered "directory information" and may be released at the discretion of the College upon request.
- Name
- Address
- Telephone number
- E-mail address
- Dates of enrollment
- Academic major
- Full- or Part-time status
- Year of study
- Resident status
- Date of graduation or withdrawal
- Degrees, certificates or awards earned
- Participation in officially recognized sports or activities
- Most recent educational institution attended by the student
- Weight and height of members of athletic teams
Under the provisions of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, currently enrolled students have the right to withhold disclosure of directory information, except as authorized by law. To withhold disclosure, students should submit written notification to the College Registrar or Site Coordinator within 30 days of the student's initial semester or term at Fisher, and thereafter by September 30 of each subsequent academic year. Forms for this purpose are available in the Registrar's Office and at each campus of the Division of Accelerated and Professional Studies. A new form for non-disclosure must be completed each academic year. Fisher College assumes that failure by any student to request the withholding of directory information indicates approval for disclosure.
