Notification of Student Rights Under FERPA
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law that affords eligible students certain rights with respect to their education records. (An “eligible student” under FERPA is a student who is 18 years of age or older or who attends a postsecondary institution.)
These rights include:
(1) The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days of the day Kalamazoo Valley Community College (KVCC) receives a request for access.
A student should submit to the Director of Admissions, Registration and Records a written request that identifies the record(s) the student wishes to inspect. The Director 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 Director of Admissions, Registration and Records, the Director will advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed.
Note: Transcripts are only released by signed written request of the student, in compliance with FERPA. Transcripts will not be furnished to any student whose financial obligation to the college has not been satisfied. As per FERPA regulations, KVCC will provide access to a student’s transcript within 45 days of a signed written request to inspect their college record. If a student lives within commuting distance of the college, they will be given visual access to their record in the Admissions, Registration and Records office, Room 9140 on the Texas Township Campus. If the student lives outside of commuting distance, they will be provided with one unofficial copy of their transcript which will be marked as unofficial and indicate that additional copies will become available once their financial obligation is satisfied.
(2) The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the student believes are inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy rights under FERPA.
A student who wishes to ask KVCC to amend a record should write the Director of Admissions, Registration and Records, clearly identify the part of the record the student wants changed, and specify why it should be changed.
If the college decides not to amend the record as requested, the student will be notified in writing of the decision and the student’s 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.
(3) The right to provide written consent before KVCC discloses personally identifiable information (PII) from the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.
Kalamazoo Valley Community College discloses education records without a student’s prior written consent under the FERPA exception for disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the college in an administrative, supervisory, academic, research, or support staff position (including law enforcement unit personnel and health staff); a person serving on the Board of Trustees; or a student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee. A school official also may include a volunteer or contractor outside of KVCC who performs an institutional service or function for which KVCC would otherwise use its own employees and who is under the direct control of the college with respect to the use and maintenance of PII from education records, such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent, or a student volunteering to assist 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 responsibilities for Kalamazoo Valley Community College.
Upon request, KVCC also discloses education records without consent to officials of another school in which a student seeks or intends to enroll or is already enrolled, or as required by federal or state law or by judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena. If information from your record is subpoenaed or required by judicial order, a reasonable attempt to notify you will be made as quickly as possible unless the order or subpoena prohibits such notice.
(4) The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by KVCC to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA is:
Student Privacy Policy Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202-5920
Phone: 1-800-USA-LEARN (1-800-872-5327)
Website: studentprivacy.edu.gov/file-a-complaint
Students who have questions may contact the Admissions, Registration and Records Office by email at arr@kvcc.edu, by calling 269.488.4281, or visiting Room 9140 on the Texas Township Campus.