The Federal Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

St. Charles County Community College, like all public colleges and universities, is subject to the provisions of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), also known as the Buckley Amendment. FERPA is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records.

Per FERPA regulations, when the student enrolls at a college or university, these rights transfer directly to the student and away from the parent. College students are considered responsible adults and are allowed to determine who will receive information about them. The student is the only person who can authorize access to his/her records. Parents no longer have the right to access their student’s records without the student’s signed written consent.

St. Charles Community College considers the following to be a student's directory information (information that can be released to a third party without the consent of a student):

• Student name;
• Date and place of birth;
• Major field of study;
• Participation in officially recognized activities and sports;
• Weight and height of athletic team members;
• Dates of attendance;
• Degrees and awards received;
• The most recent previous educational agency or institution attended by the student.

The Privacy Act of 1974 does not permit the college to provide information regarding grades, transcripts, or schedules to parents of students 18 years or older.

Any student who does not want any or all of the above information to be released without his or her prior written consent must inform the Admissions Office before the end of the second week of classes of a regular term (by the end of the first week of classes of a summer term). The information listed above will become directory information or public information as of the specified time.

Forms to request the withholding of directory information will be available during registration. The request to withhold directory information must be renewed each semester or term.

Names and addresses of SCC graduates or candidates for graduation will be released to four-year institutions upon request of the institution.

In compliance with FERPA, students have the right to inspect official records directly relating to them. You have the right to challenge any statement that you consider inaccurate, misleading, or inappropriate.

If you wish to examine your official records, you may do so by applying to the registrar.

Records may be released to parents only if the SCC Admissions and Registration Office has been provided with a written release by the student. Release forms may be found online or picked up in ADM 1113.

Contact for Questions or Concerns:
Director of Admissions and Registrar
636-922-8237 or e-mail adm-reg@stchas.edu

The U.S. Department of Education is responsible for overseeing FERPA.