Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA)

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

1. The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days of the day LTCC receives a request for access. Students should submit to the Director of Enrollment Services, a written request that identifies the record(s) they wish to inspect. The LTCC 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 LTCC 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 is inaccurate. Students may ask LTCC to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate. They should write the college official responsible for the records, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate.

If LTCC 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

3. 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 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, such as a disciplinary or grievance 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 in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility.
School officials may disclose any and all educational records, including disciplinary records, to another institution at which the student seeks or intends to enroll without the prior consent of the student.

4. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by Lake Tahoe Community 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
     400 Maryland Avenue, SW
     Washington, DC 20202-4605

 

• Directory Information

Directory information includes one or more of the following: student’s name, birthdate, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of members of athletic teams, dates of attendance, number of units of enrollment, and degrees and awards received.

LTCC maintains in the Admissions and Records Office the following student record information:

1. Demographic data supplied to the college by the student through the enrollment process.

2. Transcripts of high school work if supplied by the student.

3. Transcripts of college work.

4. Placement test data.

5. Quarter class enrollment data.

6. Residency determination documentation.

 

Additional information maintained in other offices on some students may include:

7. Financial Aid and EOP/S application information on students who have applied for either program.

8. Work Experience records on students who have taken work experience courses within the past three years.

9. Records maintained of students who have been disciplined.

 

Students may review the information contained in items 1-8. For items 1-6, a letter requesting review should be directed to the Enrollment Services office. Requests for review of information contained in item 7 may be made to the Dean of Student Success and information in item 8 may be reviewed by arrangement with the office of Instruction. Inquiries regarding information contained in items 9, are to be directed to the Dean of Student Success.  Students may challenge the contents of any records by notifying the administrator associated with the records in question. If the issue is not resolved at that level, the student may use the student grievance procedure.