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Family Education Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA)

Students have the right to inspect and review their education records. To do so, students must submit a written request by checking in at The Welcome Desk in Building 10 on the first floor. Requests will be granted as soon as practicable, but in no more than 45 days. 

Students' right to inspect and review records does not extend to personal notes of faculty or staff, law enforcement records maintained by Campus Policy, medical treatment records, parents' financial records, and certain confidential letters and recommendations. 

If upon inspection and review of records, students wish to challenge (correct or delete) inaccurate or misleading data, or any records students believe violate their rights to privacy or other rights, students may request a correction or deletion in writing. If the record custodian denies the request, students will be given copies of the record(s) in question. Students then have the right to request in writing a hearing.

Requests for hearings must be made to the vice president for Student Affairs, specifying the portion of the record to be challenged, the reason(s), and the desired change(s). The record challenge hearing will be held within a reasonable time of the request, and a written decision will be issued. If students are not satisfied, they may submit written commend(s) which will be maintained with the challenged record(s). 

The Federal Education Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect to educational records. Copies of students education records or personally identifiable information concerning students will not be released to anyone outside the college, except as permitted by law, without students' written consent. However, directory information may be released without students' written consent.

Directory information includes: name, address, telephone number, date and place of birth, major field of study, participation in Sinclair activities and sports, attendance at Sinclair, degrees, certificates and awards received, and the most recent previous educational institution attended.

If students do not want directory information released, students must complete a form requesting it not be released and file the form by checking in at The Welcome Desk in building 10 on the first floor.

The Federal Regulation, Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), applicable to educational institutions, requires institutions to adopt policies and procedures:

  1. Granting students access to their individual educational records
  2. Establishing procedures for students to challenge records believed to be inaccurate
  3. Preventing the release of educational records, except directory information, to third parties without written consent from the student

This website contains the most recently approved student records policy for Sinclair Community College. This should assist you in determining what information can be released, what procedures are to be followed, and who is the custodian of various college records.

The policy outlined in these documents and procedures to implement are designed to meet the provisions of FERPA. Sinclair Community College is committed to the policy and will follow the procedures. The Board of Trustees authorizes the Sinclair Community College President to inform students of their right under the policy and to commit his/her administrative resources to carry out the policy as well as to deal with individuals who violate it. In case a student believes that the college is violating FERPA, the student has a right to file a complaint with the Department of Education.

Problems or questions concerning the Sinclair Student Records Policy may be brought to the FERPA Coordinator, Director of Registration & Student Records. Students also have the right to file complaints with the U.S. Department of Education FERPA office.