FERPA Information for EFSC Students

Student Rights under FERPA

Eastern Florida State College maintains certain practices and procedures to assure compliance to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). This law affords students certain rights with respect to their education records. These rights include:

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. Students should submit to the Campus Dean, or an appropriate college official, written requests that identify the record(s) they wish to inspect. The college 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 college 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 or misleading. Students may ask the college to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading. They should write the College official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. If the college 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, that permits disclosure without consent, is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is defined as a person employed by the college in an administrative, supervisory, academic or support staff position (including law enforcement unit 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 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. Upon request, the College 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 the 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

Questions and comments may also be addressed to the Office of the Registrar at EFSC:321-433-7271

Students have three primary rights under FERPA. They have the right to: inspect and review their education records, have some control over the disclosure of information from their education record, and seek to amend their education records, under certain circumstances. A student's FERPA rights begin when the student registers and attends his or her first class.

Under FERPA, education records are defined as records that are directly related to a student and are maintained by an education agency or institution or by a party acting for the agency or institution. Education records can exist in any medium, including typed, computer, videotape, audiotape, film, microfilm, microfiche and email, among others.

EFSC does not routinely release directory information to third parties; the protection of student records is a top priority of the college. However, according to FERPA, a student can request, while still enrolled, that the institution not release any directory information about him/her. Institutions must comply with this request. At EFSC, students who wish to restrict the release of directory information about themselves must complete a "Request for Confidential Status of Directory Information" form, available online and in each campus Admissions and Records Office. The form must be submitted to the campus Admissions and Records Office and must be accompanied by a photo I.D.   Student's records will be flagged as "Confidential" and the flag will remain in effect until the student submits a written authorization to release it.

Students who wish to restrict directory information should realize that THIS ACTION COULD HAVE NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES. Please be aware that when your records are flagged as confidential, you may not obtain certain desirable information from the college, such as Deans or Presidents' letters. You must make all record changes and inquiries with a signed authorization or in person with a form of ID. Also, employers, credit card companies, loan agencies, scholarship committees and the like will be denied any of your directory information without your written release; they will be told: "I'm sorry, but we have no information available about this person's attendance at EFSC."

At the postsecondary level, parents and guardians have no inherent rights to access or inspect their son or daughter's education records. This right is limited solely to the student. At EFSC, records may be released to parents only if they have been given a written release by the student or in compliance with a subpoena.

A spouse has no inherent rights to access or inspect their husband or wife's education records. This right is limited solely to the student. At EFSC, records may be released to a spouse only if they have been given a written release by the student or in compliance with a subpoena.

If non-directory information is needed to resolve a crisis or emergency situation, an education institution may release that information if the institution determines that the information is "necessary to protect the health or safety of the student or other individuals." Factors considered in making this assessment are: the severity of the threat to the health or safety of those involved; the need for the information; the time required to deal with the emergency; and the ability of the parties to whom the information is to be given to deal with the emergency.

Official EFSC academic transcripts cost $10. Unofficial transcripts for current students may be accessed online at the FloridaShines website, the state's student educational hub.

EFSC will release your records to a third party only if you provide written authorization. A photo ID must accompany the authorization. This includes allowing your parents or spouse to pick up a transcript or grades. The form "Permission to Release Educational Record Information" is available online and in the campus Admissions and Records Office. The form must be submitted to the Admissions and Records Office along with legible photo ID. The designated party must provide photo ID before your records will be released to them.

The college reserves the right to deny copies of the transcripts or other records if you have an overdue financial obligation to EFSC, or if there is an unresolved disciplinary action against you.

Transcripts received from high schools and other institutions become the property of EFSC and will not be released to the student or another institution.