FERPA FAQs

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974, as amended, is a federal law that protects the privacy of students’ education records. It gives students certain rights regarding their records once they enroll in a college or university. At TCTC, FERPA rights begin once a student is registered for courses.

Students have the right to:

• Inspect and review their education records within 45 days of the registrar’s receipt of the student’s written request for access. The student must specify the document(s) to be reviewed, and the registrar will arrange for the student’s access to the record(s). The student must provide a photo ID to view the record(s).
• Request the correction of inaccurate or misleading records by submitting a written explanation to the registrar (registrar@tctc.edu) from the student’s TCTC.edu account. If the student’s request is denied, the student has a right to a hearing.
• Control the disclosure of Personally Identifiable Information (PII) through written consent, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.
• Submit a written complaint to the U.S. Department of Education if the student believes a privacy violation has occurred. Submit the written complaint to the Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20202-8520.

Any record that is:

• Directly related to the student regardless of its format (e.g., paper, digital, and electronic documents, photographs, video/audio recordings, spreadsheets, discussion posts, and archived records).
• Maintained by the college or a party acting on its behalf. Examples include admission applications, emails, VA certifications, academic transcripts, class schedules, coursework, disciplinary records, and financial documents.

FERPA authorizes directory information to be released at the college’s discretion without the consent of the student. The student may opt out of disclosure of directory information by contacting the registrar (registrar@tctc.edu) in writing using the student’s TCTC.edu account. TCTC directory information includes the student’s:

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

The student must submit a written request to the registrar (registrar@tctc.edu) using the student’s TCTC.edu email. The student’s request to block the release of directory information remains in place until the student submits a written request to rescind the opt-out option.

No. FERPA does not allow students to use their opt-out rights to remain anonymous in class or prevent the school from using their name, institutional email, or electronic identifier for instructional purposes.

FERPA permits TCTC to disclose a student’s personally identifiable information (PII) without the student’s written consent under certain exceptions. Review the explanation of these exceptions.

Yes, but only:

• with the student’s written consent.
• if the parents submit a parental affidavit confirming that the student is their dependent for tax purposes.
• if there is a health or safety emergency.
• if the student submits a FERPA release survey in the student’s admission portal or at MyTCTC.edu allowing parental access.

Yes, students can specify who may have access to their records by completing the FERPA release survey.  Access the FERPA release Survey from MyTCTC.edu.

Students can file a complaint with the Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20202-5901.