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Previous Registrar's Office / Student Data Center

FAMILY EDUCATIONAL RIGHTS AND PRIVACY ACT (FERPA)

FERPA is a federal law designed to protect the privacy of education records, to establish the right of students to inspect and review their education records, and to provide guidelines for the protection of inaccurate and misleading data through informal and formal hearings.

Student academic and educational records are confidential and are maintained by the appropriate record custodian. These records are disclosed only with the student’s written consent except as defined by FERPA. The written consent must:

  1. specify the records to be released
  2. state the purpose of the disclosure
  3. identify the party or parties to whom disclosure may be made
  4. be signed and dated by the student

Students may obtain a copy of the College’s policy regarding FERPA from the Registrar or the Dean of Corporate and Community Education. Students have the right to withhold disclosure of directory information under the FERPA. To withhold disclosure, students must complete the form and submit it to TC Central (First Floor, Ruby Hicks) on the Pendleton Campus by the end of the second week of class each term. 

Directory Information

Directory information (or releasable information) is general information that may be released by the institution for any purpose, at its discretion, to anyone without consent of the student. The following is considered directory information at Tri-County Technical College:

  • student name
  • address
  • telephone number
  • email address
  • birth date
  • major
  • participation in officially recognized activities
  • attendance dates
  • enrollment status
  • degrees/awards received
  • most recent previous school attended
  • photographs/electronic images

Personally Identifiable Information

Tri-County Technical College will disclose personally identifiable information from a student’s education records only when the eligible student has provided written consent to the College with the following exceptions:

  • To school officials who have a legitimate educational interest in the records and have a need to know. A school official is:
    • A person employed by the College in an administrative, supervisory, academic, or support staff position, including student employees.
    • A person employed by or under contract to the College to perform a special task, such as the attorney or auditor.
  • Authorized representatives of the following government entities, if the disclosures are in connection with an audit or evaluation of federal or state supported education programs, or for the enforcement of or compliance with federal legal requirements that relate to those programs:
    • Comptroller General of the U.S.
    • Secretary of Education
    • U.S. Attorney General
    • State and local educational authorities
  • Agents acting on behalf of the institution (contractors, consultants)
  • Schools in which the student seeks or intends to enroll.*
  • A party, such as the Department of Veteran’s Affairs or an employer, providing financial aid to the student.*
  • Organizations conducting studies for or on behalf of educational institutions.*
  • Accrediting organizations for accrediting purposes.
  • Appropriate parties if a health or safety emergency exists and the information will assist in resolving the emergency.*
  • An alleged victim of a crime of violence when the disclosure is the results of a disciplinary hearing regarding the alleged perpetrator of that crime with respect to that crime.
  • The Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement for purpose of complying with Request Form ICE relative to the institution’s participation in SEVIS.
  • Military recruiters who request “Student Recruiting Information” for recruiting purposes only.*
  • The Internal Revenue Service, for purposes of complying with the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997.
  • Anyone, when the disclosure concerns information provided by sex offenders required to register under state or federal law.
  • Parents of dependent students.
  • Parents when their student (under 21) is found to have violated the alcohol or drug policy of the institution.
  • To comply with judicial order or subpoena, including ex parte orders under the USA Patriot Act.

*Additional conditions exist. Contact the Registrar's Office at 864-646-1600 for additional details.

Students have the right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the College to comply with the requirements of FERPA.

The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA is:
Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202-5901