Tallahassee State College

Student Privacy Rights

Student Records (Registrar / Admin Needs)

In this section:

What is FERPA?

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), also called the Buckley Amendment, is a federal law that protects the privacy of student records. With few exceptions, FERPA covers all records about a student, not just academic records.

Who has FERPA rights at the college level?

FERPA rights belong to the student at a postsecondary institution regardless of age. “Student” refers to anyone taking classes, whether for credit or non-credit, and no matter how the class is taught—either in person or online. FERPA protects the education records of persons who are, or have been, in attendance at the institution. FERPA does not apply to records of applicants for admission who are denied acceptance or, if accepted, do not attend the institution.

What FERPA rights are given to students?

  • Right to inspect and review their education records.

  • Right to request to amend their education records.

  • Students have the right to limit the sharing of "personally identifiable information," which includes details that directly identify them or make their identity easy to trace. This is also called directory information.

  • Right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning an alleged failure by the institution to comply with 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  20202-5901 

What are education records under FERPA?

FERPA applies to all education records kept by the school or someone acting for the school that are directly related to a student. A record is “directly related” if it can personally identify the student. These records can include transcripts, financial aid files, recommendation or warning letters, class schedules, department files, emails, and disciplinary records.

Education records do not include:

  • Personal notes kept by staff (sole possession records)

  • Campus police records

  • Job records (unless the job is part of being a student)

  • Medical records

  • Records created after the student has left the school

What is directory information?

Directory information is information in a student’s education record that is not usually seen as harmful or a privacy issue if shared. FERPA lets schools label certain types of information as "directory information," which can be shared without the student’s consent. The following information has been designated as directory information at Tallahassee Community College:  

  • Student's name

  • Place of birth

  • Major field of study

  • Participation in recognized activities and sports

  • Degrees, academic honors, and awards

  • Dates of attendance

  • Enrollment Status (i.e., full-time, part-time)

  • Photographs*

*Although TSC has designated photographs as directory information, these will appear only in TSC generated information such as the College publications and website.
 
Students may choose to withhold all, or some, of the designated directory information by completing the Request to Prevent Disclosure of Directory Information form in the Admissions and Records office. Photo identification is required to complete this form.  Once this occurs, any future release of such information requires written permission of the student.
 
Students should be aware that, according to the Code of Federal Regulations 99.31(A)(1)(i)(B), TSC may disclose information to third parties outside of the institution to whom the College has outsourced services or functions. One such example is a collection agency acting on behalf of TSC.