Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
FERPA is the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 which requires students to provide written permission for the release of their grades and other information. This act was designed to protect the privacy of educational records, to establish the right of students to inspect and review their educational records, and to provide guidelines for correcting inaccurate or misleading data through informal or formal hearings.
The student’s academic record (grades, registration, progress, in-class information) will not be released to a parent or guardian or third party without the student’s signed permission release form. For additional information go to our FERPA Administrative Procedure (AP 3.11.01)
FERPA and Emergencies
FERPA permits PCC officials to disclose education records without student consent in an emergency, including personally identifiable information from those records, to protect the health and safety of students or other individuals. At such times, records and information may be released to appropriate parties such as law enforcement or public health officials, and trained medical personnel. This exception to FERPA’s general consent rule is limited to the emergency period and generally does not allow for a blanket release of personally identifiable information from a student’s education records.
FERPA and Disciplinary Records
While student disciplinary records are protected as education records under FERPA, there are certain circumstances where disciplinary records may be disclosed without the student’s consent. PCC may disclose to an alleged victim of any crime of violence or non-forcible sex offense the final results of a disciplinary proceeding conducted by PCC against the alleged perpetrator of that crime, regardless of whether the institution concluded a violation was committed. PCC may disclose to anyone - not just the victim - the final results of a disciplinary proceeding if it determines that the student is an alleged perpetrator of a crime of violence or non-forcible sex offense, and with respect to the allegation made against him or her, the student has violated PCC rules or policies.
FERPA and Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS)
FERPA permits PCC to comply with information requests from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and its Immigration and Customs Enforcement Bureau (ICE) to comply with the requirements of SEVIS. Officials who have specific questions about this and other matters involving international students should contact the U.S. Department of Education’s Family Policy Compliance Office.
FERPA and Transfer of Education Records
FERPA permits PCC officials to disclose any education records, including disciplinary records, to another institution where the student seeks or intends to enroll. While student consent is not required to transfer education records, PCC’s annual FERPA notification should indicate that such disclosures are made. In the absence of information about disclosures in the annual FERPA notification, PCC officials must reasonably attempt to notify the student about the disclosure unless the student initiates the disclosure.
FERPA and Directory Information
The College may disclose directory information without prior written consent unless notified by the student in writing by the first official class meeting date of each semester.
Directory information includes:
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Student name
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Major field of study
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Participation in officially recognized activities and sports
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Dates of attendance
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Degrees and awards received
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Most recent educational institution attended
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Enrollment status (i.e. full-time, three-quarter-time, half-time, less than half-time, withdrawn, graduated or deceased)
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College-issued email address (e.g. jdoe@mail.pima.edu)
FERPA College Contact
520-206-4700
https://pima.edu/student-resources/student-policies-complaints/ferpa/index.html.
FERPA Complaint Information
U.S. Department of Education Protecting Student Privacy Website
Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Ave. S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20202
202-260-3887
Academic Reporting
Throughout the United States, colleges and universities monitor the progress students make in achieving their academic goals. PCC is pleased to provide information regarding our institution’s graduation/completion and transfer rates, in compliance with the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended. Student success information, including information about student-athletes, is available here, or call 520-206-4500 and ask to receive a copy of the Student Right to Know brochure.
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