FERPA

It is the policy of Presbyterian College to provide protection of confidential information contained within student records against improper or illegal disclosure.

The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), passed by Congress in 1974, requires educational institutions to provide students access to their educational records, to allow students to correct inaccurate or misleading information in these records, and to limit the release of information to third parties.

The rights parents exercise with respect to their children’s education records transfer to the student when he or she reaches the age of 18 or attends a school beyond the high school level.

It is the policy of the College to compile non-confidential information that is classified by law as “directory information.” At its discretion, the College may or may not release this information. Directory information includes the student’s full name, campus address and permanent address, telephone numbers, major field of study, participation in official activities and sports, dates of attendance, degree(s) awarded and honors received, and in the case of athletic team members, weight and height.

A student who desires that directory information not be released without his/her prior permission or consent may preclude such release by submitting the following form:

• Request to Prevent Disclosure of Directory Information

Information released on alumni may include the above, plus the date of graduation. The release of additional information contained in a graduate’s record will require written authorization from the individual. A permanent authorization may be placed in the record at the discretion of the graduate.

The following records are confidential student records:

• Admissions Records: Those records assembled by the Office of Admission to provide for the screening and selection of students.
• Active Academic Records: Those academic records retained by the Office of the Registrar and required by the Office of the Provost to account for the enrolled student’s academic performance and status, to include records maintained by instructors.
• Inactive Academic Records: Those records retained by the Office of the Registrar that pertain to the academic performance of persons no longer enrolled at Presbyterian College.
• Financial Aid Records: Those records maintained by the Office of Financial Aid that relate to a student’s eligibility for a receipt of financial assistance, except that information considered confidential to a parent.
• Career Services Records: Those records maintained by Career and Professional Development that have been compiled for the purpose of career planning and job placement, except those confidential letters and statements of recommendation dated prior to January 1, 1975, providing such letters or statements are not used for purposes other than those for which they were specifically intended.
• Disciplinary Records: Those records maintained by the Office of the Vice President for Student Life that relate to a student’s conduct, behavior, or social habits.
• Health Records: Those records that provide information on the medical or psychological treatment of a student. (Note: Records on a student that are made or maintained by a physician, psychiatrist, psychologist, or other recognized professional or paraprofessional and are used only in connection with the provision of treatment to the student are not available to anyone other than the persons providing such treatment, except that such records can be personally reviewed by a physician or other appropriate professional of the student’s choice.)
• Public Safety Records: Those records maintained in the Campus Police Department that relate to a student’s contact with security and law enforcement officials.
• Financial Records: Those records maintained by the Business Office that relate to a student’s financial account.