Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) Information
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) guarantees students certain rights with respect to their educational records. They are:
1. The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days of the day the College receives a request for access. This request should be in writing to the Dean of Student Services. The appropriate form may be requested by calling (361) 354-2266.
2. The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the student believes is inaccurate or misleading. If, upon review, students’ desire to challenge any portion of their records, they should contact the Dean of Student Services in writing using the FERPA Request for Amendment of Official Student Records Form.
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. Partial lists of situations where CBC may disclose information without a student’s consent are available for review in the college catalog.
4. The right to file a complaint. Students suspecting that their rights regarding the disclosure of their records to themselves or others have been violated may contact the Family Policy and Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, 600 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, D.C. 20202-4605. For more information go to: www.ed.gov/policy/gen/guide/fpco/index.htm.
Directory Information
Directory Information Definition
For CBC purposes, directory information means information contained in an education record of a student that would not generally be considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if disclosed. It includes, but is not limited to, the student’s name, current and permanent address, telephone/cell phone listing, electronic mail address, photograph, date and place of birth, major field of study, dates of attendance, grade level, enrollment status (e.g., undergraduate or graduate; full-time or part-time), classification, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of members of athletic teams, degrees, honors and awards received, and the most recent educational agency or institution attended.
Disclosure of Directory Information
CBC will release directory information as requested the types of personally identifiable information that it has designated as directory information are listed in the definition above.
A student has a right to refuse to permit CBC to designate any or all of that information about him or her as directory information; however unless a student request this in writing a student’s consent to release directory information is presumed.
The period of time within which the student must notify the CBC in writing that he or she does not want any or all of those types of information about the student designated as directory information is during registration before the beginning of each semester. This restriction of consent remains in effect for the duration of that semester. Every effort will be made to treat restricted information as confidential.
More information relating to FERPA may be found in the college catalog and in the policy manual.