FERPA

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), is a federal law that grants important privacy rights to students regarding their educational records. More specifically, unless required by federal law, the information contained in educational records may not be disclosed to third parties, including parents, without the written consent of a student who is 18 or over. In addition to granting privacy rights, FERPA gives students the right to review their educational records and the right to request an amendment of those records should they feel the records contain inaccurate information. 

The term, “educational records,” as used in the FERPA statute, includes more than academic records in its meaning. Educational records may also be financial aid records, transcripts, letters of recommendation, disciplinary files, grades, test scores, admissions applications, and course enrollments. In essence, any records maintained by an institution and which contain information directly related to a student are educational records. 

Pearl River Community College will uphold student confidentiality rights and protect access to information as provided by the Family Educational Rights to Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99). The act applies to all individuals formerly and currently enrolled at Pearl River Community College. No exclusion is made for non-US citizen students. However, the act does not apply to a person who has applied for admission, but who never actually enrolled in or attended the institution, and deceased persons. Exception as allowed by law, information from the student’s record will only be released with the consent of the student. This authorization is valid until canceled or a new FERPA is completed. This student may cancel this release at any time by submitting another FERPA form through Wildcat Web (SSB). 

*Students’ FERPA rights begin when they are considered a student at PRCC. The institutional definition of a student is when an individual has registered for ROAR or has registered for classes, whichever comes first. 
Pearl River Community College may disclose, without consent, “directory” information such as a student’s name, address, telephone number, date and place of birth, honors and awards, and dates of attendance. If a student does not want this information disclosed to any third party, the student must submit a FERPA request via Wildcat Web (SSB).