Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act FERPA

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Alaska Career College respects the rights and privacy of its students and acknowledges the responsibility to maintain confidentiality of personally identifiable information. FERPA is a federal law that affords students the following rights with respect to their education records:

Educational (Student) Records

These are records that are directly related to a student and are maintained by the educational agency or institute. These records can include, but are not limited to, academic records, financial aid records and placement records.

Directory Information

Certain information contained in an educational record of the student is not generally considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if disclosed. It includes, but is not limited to, the student’s name, address, telephone listing, date and place of birth, major field of study, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, dates of attendance, degrees and scholarships received, and the most recent previous educational agency or institution attended. Should any student or parent of a minor child who is a student desire that this information not be disclosed, they should notify Alaska Career College.

Personally Identifiable Information

Information that includes, but is not limited to, the student’s name; the name of the student’s parent or other family member; the address of the student or student’s family; a personal identifier, such as the student’s social security number or student number; a list of personal characteristics that would make the student’s identity easily traceable or any other information that would make the student’s identity easily traceable.

Eligible Student

A student who has reached 18 years of age or is attending an institution of postsecondary education.

Records Release

Alaska Career College makes every effort to keep academic records of students confidential at all times. Students who wish to share their academic records with parents or other interested parties may contact the College and complete a Records Release Form. This information includes, but is not limited to, grades received in classes, scores on specific assignments, attendance, and conduct.

Examination of Student Records

A permanent file is maintained for each student who enrolls at Alaska Career College. The student may review their file (except parental financial information) upon written request to any administrator identifying as precisely as possible the record or records the student wishes to review. If a student wants to know more about the procedures governing review of records, the student may contact an Alaska Career College administrator. If, after reviewing the records, the student finds errors or inaccurate or misleading information, the student may request that the records be amended. If Alaska Career College does not agree, the student may request a hearing be held. If the student feels Alaska Career College has not followed the Federal rules under the Family Educational and Privacy Act of 1974, the student may contact the United States Department of Education.

Alaska Career College will follow the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) when releasing student records.

All parents and students will be notified of their rights through annual publication in the catalog of the fact that students and parents of students who are minors have the right to review a student’s educational records, to request amendment to a student’s educational records, to request corrections to a student’s educational records, to provide consent prior to disclosure of personally identifiable information and to file a complaint with the US Department of Education regarding the failure of an institution to comply with FERPA.

1. A parent or student must make a request in writing to review educational records. The school cannot deny an eligible student or a parent of a student who is a minor access to their educational records.
2. Information about a student’s records will be made available in the appropriate institutional office on an appointment basis.
3. The school may release personally identifiable information to a third party without the written consent of the parent or student if it is:
   • to other school officials who have a legitimate educational interest in the information;
   • to officials of another school where the student seeks or intends to enroll;
   • to representatives of the Comptroller General of the United States, the Secretary of Education, or State and local educational authorities; relating to financial aid and is necessary to determine eligibility for aid, determine amount of aid, determine conditions for the aid, enforce the terms and conditions of the aid;
   • to State officials if required by State statute;
   • to organizations conducting studies for educational agencies or institutions to develop, validate or administer tests, administer student aid programs or to improve instruction. No personally identifiable information will be released except to representatives of the organization and the information provided to the organization will be destroyed when no longer needed for study;
   • to an accrediting agency to carry out accrediting functions;
   • to comply with a judicial order or subpoena;
   • to US Armed Forces recruiters. The University is in compliance with the provisions of the Solomon Act which requires institutions that receive Title IV funds to provide basic directory information to the recruiters of the US Armed Forces.
   • to meet a health or safety emergency; information designated as directory information to legitimate inquirers such as counselors, employers or at the discretion of a manager.
4. All disclosures of information will be recorded in the file and will include parties receiving information and the legitimate interests of the parties for inspection of the records.
5. Educational records are maintained at the school’s main campus.
6. Alaska Career College maintains the right not to release information if the student has any delinquent financial indebtedness to the school or if there is any unresolved action against the student.
7. If a student or parent feels Alaska Career College has failed to comply with the requirements of FERPA a complaint can be filed with the U.S. Department of Education at: Family Policy Compliance Office (FERPA)
   U.S. Department of Education
   400 Maryland Avenue, SW
   Washington, DC 40202-4605