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Student Records – Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

The Registrar is responsible for the accurate and confidential maintenance of student records. Transcripts of educational records will contain only academic status information. Disciplinary action may be recorded in cases where it affects the student’s eligibility to register. Disciplinary and counseling files will be maintained separately from academic records and will not be available to unauthorized persons.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), as amended, affords students certain rights with respect to their education records. They are:

  • The right to inspect and review the student’s records within 45 days of the day the school receives a request for access. Students should submit written requests to the Registrar that identify the record(s) they wish to inspect. The Registrar will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected.
  • The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the student believes is inaccurate or misleading. Students may ask the school to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading. They should write the Registrar, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. If the school decides not to amend a record as requested by the student, the school will notify 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.
  • 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 which permits disclosure without consent is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the school in an administrative, supervisory, academic or research, or support staff position (including law enforcement personnel and health staff); a person or company with whom the school has contracted (such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent); a person serving on the Board of Directors or Trustees; or a student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, 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 school discloses education records to officials of another school in which a student seeks or intends to enroll.
  • The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by Savannah Technical College to comply with 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, S.W.
    Washington, DC 20202-4605