The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect to their education records.
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 Records Office, Griffin Hall, Room 208, written requests that identify the record(s) they wish to inspect. The Records Office staff will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected.
The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the student believes are inaccurate or misleading.
Students may ask Thomas Nelson Community College (TNCC) to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading. They should write the TNCC official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. 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 a student 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.
The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by TNCC to comply with the requirements of FERPA.
The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA are:
Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
600 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202-4605
