Pulaski Technical College: two year community college in central Arkansas

Privacy of Student Records (FERPA)

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974 is a federal law 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 the correction of inaccurate or misleading data through informal and formal hearings.

Student education records are considered confidential and may not be released to anyone other than the student without the written consent of the student; this includes the student’s parents and spouse. Exceptions to this policy include information that is considered directory information and disclosure to the following

Pulaski Technical College personnel with a legitimate educational interest
Federal, state, and local officials as specified by law
Research and accreditation representatives

Some information, termed “directory information,” may be released without the student’s written permission. Directory information includes the student’s name, address, phone number, dates of attendance, degrees received, major/program, height/weight of athlete, e-mail addresses, full or part-time status, and the date of birth. Students have the right to request that directory information be withheld as confidential. The student should contact the Registrar to make such a request. Requests will remain in effect until the student submits a written request to remove the hold. Pulaski Technical College assumes that failure on the part of any student to request the withholding of the directory information indicates approval for disclosure.

Students can designate other persons to have access to their educational records and/or conduct business with the college on their behalf. To do this, the student must complete a consent form with the Office of the Registrar. The form is in effect until the student revokes it in writing or has not been enrolled for two calendar years. Persons accessing a student’s records must provide photo identification and all requests are subject to the standard processing time and fees (If any). Any additions or changes to the consent form require completion of a new form.

A student may request to examine his or her records. Each request will be granted within 45 days of receipt of the request. Copies of the records will be provided upon written request. Students who believe that the records are inaccurate or misleading should notify the registrar in writing, clearly indentify the part of the record that needs to be changed, and explain why that record needs to be changed.

Students also have the right to file complaints with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the institution to comply with requirements of FERPA. Questions concerning the Act should be referred to the Dean of Enrollment Services (or Registrar). Copies of the policy and a directory of education records listing all institutional student records are available in the Office of the Registrar.

The contact information for the office that administers FERPA is:

Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland, Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20202-5920

Telephone (201) 260-3887

Individuals who use TDD may call the Federal Information Relay Service at 1 (800) 877-8339

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