Student Rights Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974

Greenfield Community College (GCC), in compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), its subsequent amendments and pursuant regulations, has established this policy to inform students of their rights under this Act and to enumerate its basic provisions. The purpose of the Act is to protect the confidentiality of student education records and to allow students access to their own education records. Students are informed of their rights under this Act through the college catalog and annually via students' GCC email accounts.

Right to Inspect and Review Education Records

Pursuant to the Act, Greenfield Community College permits students to inspect and review their education records filed after January 1, 1975. Students will be denied access to recommendations written since January 1, 1975, if they have waived their right to examine them.

• Requests must be made in writing, and satisfactory identification must accompany such requests.
• All written requests will be honored within 45 days of receiving the request.

Record Locations and Officials

Type of Record	Office	Responsible Official
Academic	Office of the Registrar	Registrar
Financial	Bursar/Billing Office	Chief Financial Officer
Financial Aid	Financial Aid Office	Financial Aid Director
Veterans	Educational Support	Veterans Affairs Certifying Official

Correction of Education Records

Students may request that the college amend the content of their education records on the grounds that the records are inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the privacy or other rights of students.

• Requests must be directed in writing to the official responsible for maintaining the specific records.
• The official will determine whether to amend the records within a reasonable period and notify the student.
• If the request is denied, the student will be advised of the right to a hearing to appeal the decision.

Disclosure of Personally Identifiable Information

GCC will not disclose personally identifiable information from education records except as permitted or required by the Act. Information may be disclosed without prior written consent to College officials with a legitimate educational interest, government agencies, and other permitted parties. Additionally, information is released for military recruiting per the Solomon Amendment.

Directory Information

The College designates certain information as "directory information" which may be disclosed without prior written consent. This includes:

• Student's Name
• Student's Major
• Dates of Attendance
• Graduation Date(s)
• Honors Conferred
• Town/State

Students may request that the college not disclose directory information by notifying the Office of the Registrar in writing. This can be done via a Directory Information Non-Disclosure Request form (available at gcc.mass.edu/registrar/forms) or a signed letter. Such requests stay in effect until revoked in writing. Note that this restriction includes the student's name on public graduation lists and honors notifications.

Complaint Procedure

Students who believe their rights under FERPA have been violated may submit a written complaint to:

Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20202

The Office will notify the student of receipt, investigate the complaint, and provide written notification of findings to both the student and the college.