Students Rights to Privacy Information – FERPA
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect to their education records. They are:
- The right to inspect and review the student's education records within 45 days of the day the Institute receives a request for access. Students should submit to the Registrar written requests that identify the record(s) they wish to inspect using a Right of Access form available in the Office of Student Affairs (OSA). The Registrar will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. If the Registrar does not maintain the records, the student will be advised of the correct official from whom to request the records.
- The right to request the amendment of the student's education records that the student believes is inaccurate or misleading. Students should ask the Institute to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading. They should write the Institute 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 Institute decides not to amend the record as requested by the student, the Institute 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.
- 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 a person employed by the Institute in an administrative, supervisory, academic or research, or support staff position (including law enforcement unit personnel and health staff); a person or company with whom the Institute has contracted (such as an attorney, auditor, collection agent, or National Student Loan Clearinghouse); a person serving on the Board of 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 Institute discloses educational records without consent to officials of another school in which a student seeks or intends to enroll. FERPA requires an institution to make a reasonable attempt to notify the student of the records request.
- The right to file a complaint with the US Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the Institute to comply with the requirements of FERPA.
The Institute does not release personally identifiable information contained in student education records, except as authorized by law. The Institute has designated certain types of personally identifiable information as "directory information." It includes the following: name, address, telephone number, program of study, dates of attendance, degrees, awards, and email address. If students wish to restrict release of this information, they must indicate this using their IONLINE account at any point during their active status as a student.
The above rights to access information apply to matriculated students only. Materials submitted to the Institute during the admissions process become the property of the Institute and may not be reviewed by, or returned to, an applicant.
Click here for a link to the Department of Education Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act Regulations.