Bellin College complies with the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Once enrolled, all students have a right to inspect and review most of the educational records maintained about them by Bellin College under FERPA of 1974 (as amended). Under most circumstances, no identifiable data (non-directory) will be released to a third party without the written consent of the student. Students may challenge information in their records which they believe to be inaccurate, misleading, or inappropriate and request a revision.
The College implements all provisions of FERPA as amended. For purposes of general records accountability, a file system has been established for all student records under the supervision of the Registrar. The FERPA record release exceptions:
- Release of directory information. (Please see below for what is considered directory information.)
- Instances when state or federal agencies request information essential to fulfill legal requirements for accreditation.
- Requests from agencies or organizations from which students have received financial aid.
- Requests in accordance with a lawful subpoena or court order.
- Requests from College officials with legitimate educational interests. (Please see below for the definition of a College official.)
A College official is defined as a person employed by the College in an administrative, supervisory, academic, research or support staff position, law enforcement and health staff, a person or company with whom the College has contracted (such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent); a person serving on the Board of Trustees; or a student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another College official in performing his or her tasks.
Bellin College has defined the following as directory information:
- Name
- Address
- Email address
- Cell phone number
- Date of birth
- Confidential recommendations to which the student has in their records prior to January 1, 1975
- Dates of attendance, year in college and enrollment status
- Academic honors
- Previous institutions attended.
- Participation in recognized activities
- Photograph
Please note: Students complete the FERPA disclosure permission forms as part of the orientation process. Forms are also kept in the One Stop Shop for any students who wish to update disclosure permissions. A new form must be completed by the student to change access permission to the student’s record. Students should be aware that placing a FERPA hold on all records includes limiting the College’s ability to provide a reference or verify enrollment or degree information. Students can select the transparency of the specific information visible within our student information system
Students can request access to records, documents and other materials directly related to them by appointment with the Registrar or the Dean of Students & Allied Health Sciences.
Students may not have access to:
- Personal information of College employees.
- Employment records.
- Medical, psychiatric, or similar records used solely for treatment purposes and available only to recognized professionals in connection with such treatment. Students would be able to have such records inspected by a doctor or appropriate professional of their choice.
- The financial records of their parents used for financial aid purposes.
- Confidential letters and statements of recommendations placed in their records prior to January 1, 1975, and/or confidential recommendations to which the student has given prior written waiver of access and which are used for job placement, admissions, or award purposes.
- Admission records accumulated prior to enrollment.
Disclosure to Parents
When a student turns 18 years old or enters a postsecondary institution at any age, all rights afforded to parents under FERPA transfer to the student. However, FERPA also provides ways in which schools may share information with parents without the student’s consent. For example:
- Schools may disclose education records to parents if the student is a dependent for income tax purposes.
- Schools may inform parents if their son or daughter is involved in a health or safety emergency.
- Schools may inform parents if a student who is under age 21 has violated any law or its policy concerning the use or possession of alcohol or a controlled substance.
Student and Exchange Visitor Information System
FERPA permits institutions to comply with information requests from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and its Immigration and Customs Enforcement Bureau (ICE) in order to comply with the requirements of Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS).