The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act affords students certain rights with respect to their educational records. These rights 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, Vice President of Student Affairs, 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, the 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 educational records that the student believes are inaccurate or misleading. Students may ask the College to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading. They should write to the College official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. If Atlantic Cape Community 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 disclosure of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s educational 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 Atlantic Cape has contracted (such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent); or a student serving on an official committee, such as 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 educational record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility. Upon request, the College may disclose educational records without consent to officials of another school in which a student seeks or intends to enroll.
- The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by Atlantic Cape Community College to comply with the requirements of FERPA.
Submit claims to:
Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
600 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C., 20202-4605
Atlantic Cape Community College hereby designates the following categories of student information as public or “Directory Information.” (The College may disclose such information without the student’s prior consent under the conditions set forth in FERPA.)
Name, hometown, classification (freshman or sophomore), degrees awarded, honors, awards, weight/height of athlete, sports participation.
Requests for release of Directory Information must be submitted in writing to the Registrar, Atlantic Cape Community College, 5100 Black Horse Pike, Mays Landing, NJ 08330-2699.
Students who elect to withhold disclosure of this category of information must conduct all College business in person with a photo ID card. Such students’ names will be published in the commencement program unless the students’ request exclusion in writing. Students in this category are eligible to use the Web for transactions including registration, which are protected by a personal identification number (PIN).
Currently enrolled students may withhold disclosure of directory information under FERPA. To withhold disclosure, students must present a student ID in person at the Registrar’s Office (J building), Mays Landing Campus, and complete the Restrict Directory Information form. The form may be submitted at any time throughout the year and will immediately affect prospective disclosures. Atlantic Cape Community College assumes that failure on the part of any student to specifically request the withholding of a category of directory information indicates individual approval for disclosure.
Former students may not place a new request for nondisclosure of directory information on their educational records; however, they may request its removal.