The Family Educational Rights Privacy Act (FERPA)
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) afford students certain rights with respect to their education records. Parents should be aware that college students, once registered for courses on a college campus, are individuals with protected college records which cannot be released without the student’s authorization (even in the case when the student is under 18 years of age) These students’ rights under FERPA include:
- 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 registrar, dean, head of the academic department, or other appropriate 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.
- The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the student believes is inaccurate. Students may ask the College to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate. 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. 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.
- 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 College 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 College has contracted (such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent); 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. Students may sign a third-party release form to authorize parents to have access to their educational records.
- 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 20202-460
**Tip for Parents – Parents can click the following link for additional information about FERPA: http://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/ferpa/index.html
Emergency Procedures at Bloomfield College and what every parent should know:
You as a parent have entrusted the College with the safety of your college student. Bloomfield College is one of few colleges in New Jersey which allow students to enroll their parents in the College’s Emergency Notification System (E2Campus). Please communicate with your student to insure that you are notified of any emergencies on the college campus. We want you well informed and aware of what is occurring in your child’s new college community.
**Tip for Parents – To learn more about Emergency Preparedness at Bloomfield College, click on the following link: http://www.bloomfield.edu/student-life/safety-security/emergency-procedures