Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect to their education records. These rights include:

  • The right to inspect and review your education record within a reasonable time after the Yuba Community College District receives a request for access. If you want to review your record, contact the College office that maintains the record or the District Registrar to make appropriate arrangements.
  • The right to request the amendment of your education record if you believe it is inaccurate or misleading. If you feel there is an error in your record, you should submit a statement to the College official that maintains the record or the District Registrar, clearly identifying the part of the record you want changed and why you believe it is inaccurate or misleading.  That office will notify you of their decision and advise you regarding appropriate steps if you do not agree with the decision.
  • The right to consent to disclosure of personally identifiable information contained in your educational records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. One exception which permits disclosure without consent is disclosure to school officials with “legitimate educational interests.” A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official has a “need to know” information from your education in order to fulfill his or her official responsibilities.  Examples of people who may have access, depending on their official duties, and only within the context of the duties, include: College and District faculty and staff, agents of the institution, students employed by the institution or who serve on official institutional committees, and representatives of agencies under contract with the College and District.
  • The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the College or District to comply with the requirements of FERPA.

Release of student record information is generally not done at the Yuba Community College District without the expressed, written consent of the student.  There are, however, some exceptions.

For example, directory information includes the following, and may be released without the student’s consent: Name, student participation in officially recognized activities and sports including weight, height, and high school of graduation of athletic team members, degrees and awards received by students, including honors, scholarship awards, athletic awards and Dean’s List recognition.

Generally, no information concerning a student will be released without a written release from the student. Directory information may be given out only when it is necessary or appropriate to do so in the opinion of a member of the Student Services professional staff.  Directory information is usually only released to the National Student Clearinghouse.

Please note that you have the right to withhold the release of directory information.  To do so, you must complete a Request to Prevent the Disclosure of Directory Information form (also known as a “FERPA Block”), which must be submitted to the Admissions and Records office.  Please note two important details regarding placing a “No Release” on your record:

  • The District receives many inquiries for directory information from a variety of sources outside the institution, including friends, parents, relatives, prospective employers, the new media and honor societies. Having a “No Release” on your record will preclude release of such information, even to those people.
  • A “No Release” applies to all elements of directory information on your record. The Yuba Community College District does not apply “No Release” differentially to the various directory information data elements.