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Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
FERPA is a federal law that applies to educational agencies and institutions that receive funding
under a program administered by the US Department of Education. The statute is found at 20 U.S.C.
1232g and the Department’s regulations are found at 34 CFR Part 99.

Under FERPA schools must generally afford students attending a postsecondary institution access
to their educational information, an opportunity to seek and have their records amended, and some
control over the disclosure of information from the records.

FERPA requires the Institute to protect the privacy of student record information with regard to access
to a student’s Institute records, the release of such records, and the opportunity to challenge records
should they be inaccurate, misleading, or inappropriate.

No information can be provided to a custodial parent, non-custodial parent, or other third party
without the permission of the student unless very specific criteria have been met.

FERPA requires the Institute to establish a policy with regard to the data items that can be released
to third parties upon request, and to establish the procedures for the release of such information.
Students have the option of making their “file” and “data” confidential. Students choosing to have their
data marked as confidential are identified in the student information system.

Disclosure of Education Records

A school must:
• Have a student’s written consent prior to the disclosure of education records
• Ensure that the consent is signed and dated and states the purpose of the disclosure

A school may disclose education records without prior consent when:

• The disclosure is to school officials who have been determined to have a legitimate educational
interests
• The student is seeking or intending to enroll in another school
• The disclosure is to state or local education authorities auditing or enforcing Federal or State
supported education programs or enforcing Federal laws which relate to those programs
• The disclosure is to the parents of a student who is a dependent for income tax purposes
• The disclosure is in connection with determining eligibility, amounts, and terms for financial aid or enforcing the terms and conditions of financial aid
• The disclosure is pursuant to lawfully issued court order or subpoena
• The information disclosed has been appropriately designated as directory information by the school.

Parent Access to Records

Student records may be released to a parent (either custodial or non-custodial) of the student
without the student’s prior approval only when MediaTech Institute parent information request form
has been completed. This form requires the requesting party to attach documentation that verifies
the student was claimed as a dependent student on the most recently filed IRS tax return. (Copies
already supplied to the Financial Aid Office can be used.) Once this form and documentation is
received, the student will be notified of the request prior to the release of the requested information
10 days hence. Student information is subject to the FERPA guidelines even if the student is below
age 18.

FERPA permits institutions to disclose information to a parent if a health or safety emergency involves
their son or daughter. Schools are also allowed to inform parents if the student is under age 21 has
violated any law or its policy concerning the use or possession of alcohol or a controlled substance. A
school official may generally share with a parent information that is based on that official’s personal
knowledge or observation of the student.

Students may choose to have their records provided to a parent, or other third party, on a one time
or one year basis by completing the student Release of Academic Information form.

Health or Safety Emergency

In addition, the school is allowed to disclose without the student consent education records, including personally identifiable information from those records, to protect the health and safety of students and
other individuals. At such times, records and information may be released to appropriate parties such
as law enforcement officials, public health officials, and trained medical personnel. This exception to FERPA’s general consent rule is limited to the period of the emergency, and generally does not allow
for a blanket release of personally identifiable information.

Disciplinary Records

While student disciplinary records are protected as education records under FERPA, there are certain circumstances in which disciplinary records may be disclosed without the student’s consent. A post-secondary institution may disclose to an alleged victim of any crime of violence or non-forcible sex
offense the final results of a disciplinary proceeding conducted by the institution against the alleged perpetrator of that crime.

An institution may disclose to anyone the final results of a disciplinary hearing if it determines that
the student is an alleged perpetrator of violence or non-forcible sex offense and with respect to the allegation made against him or her, the student has committed a violation of the institutions rules
or policies.

Law Enforcement Unit Records

Investigative reports and other records created and maintained by the law enforcement units are
not considered to be education records subject to FERPA. Accordingly, intuitions may disclose
information from law enforcement unit records to anyone, including outside law enforcement
authorities, without student consent. MediaTech Institute is responsible for referring potential
or alleged violations of law to local police authorities.

Student Access to Educational Records

Schools are required by FERPA to:

• provide a student with an opportunity to inspect and review his or her education records within
45 days of the receipt of the request
• provide the student with copies of education records or otherwise make records available to the
student if the student , for instance, lives outside of commuting distance of the school
• redact the names and other personally identifiable information about other students that may be
included in the student’s education records.

Amendment of Education Records:

Under FERPA a school must:

• Consider a request from a student to amend inaccurate or misleading information in the student’s education records
• Offer the student a hearing on the matter if it decides not to amend the records in accordance with the request
• Offer the student a right to place a statement to be kept and disclosed with the record if as a result
of the hearing the school decides not to amend the record.

A school is not required to consider requests for amendment under FERPA that

• Seek to change a grade or disciplinary record
• Seek to change the opinions or reflections of a school official or other person reflected in an
education record

Students have the right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged
failures by the Institute 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

Questions about the administration of FERPA at MediaTech Institute and the release or amendment
of any student record, should be addressed to the Campus Director.

Enrollment verification – An official Institute statement indicating enrollment and student status
(i.e. full- or part-time). Students may request in person and/or in writing enrollment verification from
Student Services.

Admissions Department
Federal legislation relating to the Hope Tax Credit requires that all postsecondary institutions report
student social security numbers to the Internal Revenue Service. This IRS requirement makes it
necessary for Institutes to collect the social security number of every student. A student may refuse
to disclose his or her social security number to MediaTech, but the IRS is then authorized to fine the
student in the amount of $50.00.


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