Excerpt from Policy

Bellevue College implements policy contained in this chapter in compliance with Public Law 93-380, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (“FERPA”). This law establishes that the education records of students attending or having attended the college are confidential and can be released only with written permission of the student. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act also authorizes the college to release so-called “directory information” without prior written permission.

The college has adopted procedures to implement the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. Questions pertaining to the procedures and their implementation should be directed to the Associate Dean of Enrollment Services.
Notification of Rights under FER PA
FERPA affords students certain rights with respect to their education records.

They are:

1. The right to inspect and review the student’s education 1. records within 45 days of the day the college receives a request for access. Students should submit to the Associate Dean of Enrollment Services written requests that identify the record(s) they wish to inspect. The Associate Dean will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. If the records are not maintained by the Associate Dean, s/he will forward the request to the appropriate college official to whom the request should be addressed.
2. The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the student believes are inaccurate or misleading. Students may ask the college to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading. They should write the college official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. If the college decides not to amend the record as requested by the student, the college will notify the student of the decision and advise the student of his or her right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the student when notified of the right to a hearing. Grades are not subject to amendment of a student record.
3. The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. There are exceptions which 64 Bellevue College Student Handbook 2009–2010 permit disclosure without consent such as disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the college or under contract in an administrative, supervisory, academic, research, or support staff position (including campus security personnel and health staff); a person or company with whom the college has contracted (i.e., an attorney, auditor, compliance officer, collection agency or billing service); 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 school official in performing his or her tasks. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility. Upon request, the college discloses education records without consent to officials of another school in which a student seeks or intends to enroll, in connection with financial aid, to parents of dependent students, to comply with a subpoena or to organizations conducting studies on behalf of educational institutions. Information may also be disclosed for health and safety reasons and as a result of a disciplinary hearing to an alleged victim. Directory information (that information which may be made public to any party) is defined as: name, dates of enrollment, degree/certificate earned, sports participation (including height & weight).
4. The right to file a complaint with the US Department of Education concerning alleged failures by Bellevue College to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the office that administers FERPA is:

Family Policy Compliance Office

US Department of Education

400 Maryland Avenue, SW

Washington DC 20202-4605

Visit our website to read complete list college policies http://bellevuecollege.edu/policies/.

This website does not include department-specific policies or procedures.
Please contact the appropriate department for more information.