Griffin Technical College
STUDENT RECORD CONFIDENTIALITITY:
FERPA INFORMATION

Download the U.S. Department of Education Brochure for Colleges and Universities (PDF)


Student Privacy

Griffin Technical College has a firm commitment to protecting the privacy rights of its students. In making this commitment, the College wants to ensure that all faculty and staff are familiar with state and federal laws pertaining to student privacy, as well as College policies and procedures that have been implemented to help guarantee student privacy.

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What is FERPA?

FERPA stands for Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (sometimes called the Buckley Amendment). Passed by Congress in 1974, the Act grants four specific rights to college students:

Information is also available at http://www.ed.gov/offices/OII/fpco/ferpa/

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Information is also available at: http://www.cdc.gov/privacyrule/privacy-HIPAAfacts.htm

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FERPA FAQs

What are Education Records?

Information recorded in any form that is directly related to a student and maintained by the college and by those acting for the college.

  • personal information
  • enrollment records
  • grades
  • schedules

The storage medium in which you find this information does not matter. A student educational record may be:

  • a document in the Admissions and Records District office
  • a computer printout in your office
  • a class list on your desktop
  • a computer display screen

Education Records Do Not Include:

  • Records of instructional, supervisory and administrative personnel kept in the sole possession of the maker of the record and not revealed to anyone other than the maker's substitute;
  • Records of a campus law enforcement unit created and maintained by that unit and used solely for law enforcement purposes;
  • Employment records, maintained apart from educational records, relating to persons who are employees;
  • Records kept and maintained by a health care professional, used solely in connection with treatment and disclosed only to individuals providing treatment; or
  • Records which include information about an individual after he or she is no longer a student.

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What is the Right to Inspect and Review?

Griffin Technical College must grant requests to review within a reasonable time but in no case more than 45 days after the request is received. Griffin Technical College must respond to reasonable requests for explanations and interpretations of the records.

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What is Prior Written Consent?

A signed and dated document that includes specification of the records to be disclosed, the purpose of the disclosure and the identity of the person to whom records will be disclosed. A written consent form can be accessed by clicking here (pdf).

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When is Consent Not Required? (This is not an exhaustive list of exceptions)

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What is Directory Information for Griffin Technical College?

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Special "DON'TS" For Faculty and Support Staff

To avoid violations of FERPA rules,

DO NOT:

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GTC Student Records Policy Statement

Procedures relating to the establishment, utilization, availability, and retention of student records are in accordance with the provisions of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974 as amended, the State Board of Technical and Adult Education, and the policies of Griffin Tech.  Students, alumni, and other interested parties should contract that Registrar's Office to obtain a copy of the College's policy.

Griffin Tech, in compliance with FERPA, releases the following as directory information without the consent of the student:

Any student or parent of a dependent student who objects to the release of directory information may file a Request to Suppress Directory Information in writing to the Registrar clearly stating what directory information should not be released.

Upon written consent of the student, specific information not listed above may be released provided the signed consent form is on file in the student's file.

In accordance with FERPA, certain governmental institutions have access to student records without prior consent for disclosure,  if requested, Griffin Tech will notify the student of the release of any information to any agency for which prior consent is not required.

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Directory Information

Griffin Tech, in compliance with FERPA, releases the following as directory information without the consent of the student:

Any students or parent of a dependent student who objects to the release of directory information may file a Request to Suppress Directory Information in writing to the Registrar clearly stating what directory information should not be released.

Upon written consent of the student, specific information not listed above may be released provided the signed consent form is in the student's file.

In accordance with FERPA, certain governmental institutions have access to student records without prior consent for disclosure.  If requested, Griffin Tech will notify the student of the release of an information to any agency for which prior consent is not required.

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