STUDENT NOTIFICATION OF RIGHTS
FAMILY EDUCATIONAL RIGHTS AND PRIVACY ACT (FERPA)
Students of the Tennessee College of Applied Technology Shelbyville have legal rights under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974, as well as the related regulations of the Department of Education. This law, also referred to as the Buckley Amendment, and the regulations provide that:
- A student has a right to inspect and review their educational records by submitting a written request to the Student Records Clerk. Within 30 days of the request, the Student Records Clerk will notify the student of the date and time when the records can be inspected.
- A student may request that any record be amended if the student believes it is inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of privacy rights. To request an amendment, the student must write the school official responsible for the record and clearly specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. If the school decides not to amend the record, the student will be notified of his/her rights to a school hearing. Additional information regarding hearing procedures will be provided to the student at that time.
- The Tennessee College of Applied Technology Shelbyville will obtain the student’s written consent before disclosing personally identifiable information about the student from their records, unless the consent is not required by the law or the regulations. One exception which permits disclosure without consent is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her responsibility. A school official is a person employed by the institution in an administrative, supervisory, faculty or staff position; a person or company with whom the school has contracted services; a member of the school’s governing board, or a student serving in an official capacity, such as student review hearings. Upon request, the school also discloses education records without consent to officials of another school in which a student seeks or intends to enroll, but will notify the student, if possible, of this request.
- If a student wishes to authorize the release of records to other individuals, the student must complete the "Authorization to Release Information” form, available in the Student Records Office. For security purposes, photo identification will be required in order to complete this form.
- Directory information such as name, address, date of birth, telephone listing, course of study, dates of attendance, awards earned, etc. may be disclosed unless the student submits a written request that such information not be disclosed. If a student wishes to restrict the release of directory information to outside agencies and schools, a "Confidentiality of Records” form must be completed and submitted to the Student Records Office.
- A student has the right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the institution to comply with the requirements of FERPA. Contact information is provided below:
Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
600 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202-4605