Notification of Rights and Directory Information Notice Under FERPA

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1994 (FERPA), § 513 of P.L. 93-380 (The Education Amendments of 1974)

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords eligible students certain rights with respect to their education records. An “eligible student” under FERPA is a student who is 18 years of age or older or who attends a postsecondary institution. These rights include the following:

1. The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days of the day Rochester College (the “school”) receives a request for access. A student should submit to the registrar, dean, head of the academic department, or other appropriate official, a written request that identifies the record(s) the student wishes to inspect. The school 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 school official to whom the request was submitted, that official shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed.
2. The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the student believes are inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy rights under FERPA.

   A student who wishes the school to amend a record should write the school official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record the student wants changed, and specify why it should be changed.

   If the school decides not to amend the record as requested, the school 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 the school discloses personally identifiable information (PII) from the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.

   The school 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 a person employed by Rochester College in an administrative, supervisory, academic or research, or support staff position (including law enforcement unit personnel and health staff); a person serving on the board of trustees; or a student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee. A school official also may include a volunteer or contractor outside of Rochester College who performs an institutional service or function for which the school would otherwise use its own employees and who is under the direct control of the school with respect to the use and maintenance of PII from education records, such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent or a student volunteering to assist 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 in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibilities for Rochester College.

   Upon request, the school also discloses education records without consent to officials of another school in which a student seeks or intends to enroll.

4. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by Rochester College to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA is
   U.S. Department of Education
   Family Policy Compliance Office
   400 Maryland Avenue, SW
   Washington, DC 20202-8520

FERPA requires that Rochester College, with certain exceptions, obtain written consent prior to the disclosure of personally identifiable information from your education records. However, Rochester College may disclose appropriately designated “directory information” without written consent, unless you have advised Rochester College to the contrary in accordance with Rochester College procedures. The primary purpose of directory information is to allow Rochester College to include this type of information from your education records in certain school publications. Examples include the following:

• A playbill, showing your role in a drama production;
• Honor roll or other recognition lists;
• Graduation programs; and
• Sports activity sheets, such as for basketball, showing weight and height of team members.

Directory information, which is information that is generally not considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if released, can also be disclosed to outside organizations without prior written consent. Outside organizations include, but are not limited to, companies that manufacture class rings or publish yearbooks.

If you do not want Rochester College to disclose directory information from your education records without your prior written consent, you must notify Rochester College in writing by the first day of the semester. Rochester College has designated the following information as directory information:

• Student’s name
• Address
• Telephone listing
• Major field of study
• Dates of attendance
• Grade level
• Participation in officially recognized activities and sports
• Weight and height of members of athletic teams
• Degrees, honors, and awards received

Rochester College generally will not release address or telephone information for students to outside parties except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.