Academic Records Privacy Rights

Academic Records Privacy Rights (FERPA)

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

The University of Arkansas East Arkansas Community College (UA-EACC) complies fully with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), a federal law that affords eligible students certain rights regarding their education records. An eligible student is any student who is 18 years of age or older or who attends a postsecondary institution at any age

1. Right to Inspect and Review Records

Students have the right to inspect and review their education records. Requests must be submitted in writing to the Registrar, and access will be provided within 45 days of receipt of the request. The Registrar will coordinate access and notify the student of the time and location for review. If the records are maintained by another office, the student will be directed to the appropriate office.

2. Right to Request Amendment of Records

Students may request amendment of education records they believe are:

• Inaccurate
• Misleading
• In violation of their privacy rights

Requests must be submitted in writing to the appropriate college official and must clearly identify the record and the basis for the requested change. If the request is denied, the student will be notified in writing and provided information regarding the right to a formal hearing.

Note: FERPA does not permit challenges to grades or academic decisions that are correctly recorded. FERPA exists to protect the accuracy and privacy of education records, not to dispute academic judgments.

3. Right to Provide Written Consent for Disclosure

UA-EACC will not disclose personally identifiable information (PII) from a student's education records without the student's prior written consent, except as permitted under FERPA. Written consent must specify:

• The records to be disclosed
• The purpose of the disclosure
• The individual(s) or entity(ies) authorized to receive the information

Permissible Disclosures Without Consent

FERPA permits disclosure without student consent to certain parties, including:

• School officials with legitimate educational interests
• Members of the Board of Trustees
• Students serving on official committees
• Contractors or service providers performing institutional functions (such as attorneys, auditors, or the National Student Clearinghouse)
• Officials of other institutions where a student seeks or intends to enroll
• Federal, state, and local education authorities
• Financial aid providers
• Accrediting agencies
• Parents of dependent students as defined by IRS regulations
• Compliance with judicial orders or lawfully issued subpoenas
• Appropriate parties in health or safety emergencies
• Parents of students under age 21 for alcohol or controlled substance violations
• Authorized disclosures related to registered sex offenders
• Directory information as defined below

Directory Information

To fully protect student privacy as permitted by law, UAEACC designates only the following items as directory information:

• Student name
• UA-EACC email address

Students who wish to restrict the release of directory information must submit a written non-disclosure request to the Registrar. Non-disclosure requests remain effective only for the enrollment period in which they are submitted and must be renewed for subsequent enrollment periods.

Students wishing to authorize the release of specific information to a designated individual or agency may complete a Student Information Release Authorization Form through the Registrar's Office. A valid photo ID is required when submitting the authorization.

4. Right to File a Complaint

Students may file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by UA-EACC to comply with FERPA requirements.

Student Privacy Policy Office U.S. Department of Education 400 Maryland Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20202