Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974 is Federal law designed to protect the privacy aspects of a student’s educational record. It regulates the use and disclosure of personal information in educational records and permits a student to know what material is maintained in those records. Below are examples of personally identifiable information (PII) and directory information (for more information please visit the SCC Student Handbook).

Students can authorize another person to view their educational records by completing the FERPA - Consent to Release form. Completed forms should be submited via SCC email to enrollment@stchas.edu for processing. Students can also complete the form in person with a valid ID at 1200 SCC Main (1SCM). 

Personal Information:

PI is contained in the student’s education records and cannot be released without a FERPA - Consent to Release form.

• Student telephone numbers
• Mailing addresses
• Race/ethnicity, gender and age
• Any information about GPA, transcripts or class schedules
• Information as to whether the student is attending classes or not (absences)
• How the student is performing academically in class
• Billing and fee payment records
• Financial aid information
• Payment extension information
• Police records
• Medical and psychological records
• Counseling and advising records
• Scores on tests required for new students
• Letters of recommendation
• Disciplinary records
• Personal identifier such as SSN or Student ID#
• Email address

Public Directory Information:

Directory information as defined by the United States Department of Education means information contained in an educational record of a student that would not generally be considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if disclosed. Students may request SCC not release directory information by sending an email to enrollment@stchas.edu from their SCC account verifying what information they do not wish to have released. This must be completed 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) or it will become public directory information. 

• Student’s 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 – current enrollment status (FT/PT)
• Degrees and Awards received
• The most recent previous educational agency or institution attended the student
• Names and addresses of SCC graduates or candidates for graduation may be released to four-year colleges and universities.

The college may disclose records without student consent to the following parties:

• Other colleges to which a student is transferring
• Certain government officials in order to carry out lawful functions
• Appropriate parties in connection with financial aid to a student
• Organizations conducting certain studies for the college
• Accrediting organizations
• Individuals who have obtained court orders or subpoenas – the college is obliged to honor these requests. The SCC records coordinator will send a notice to the student indicating that a subpoena for their records was received
• Persons who have a need to know in cases of health or safety emergencies
• State and local authorities, within a juvenile justice system, pursuant to specific State law.