Confidentiality and Release of Information
STUDENT EDUCATIONAL RECORDS AND DIRECTORY INFORMATION
Registrar's Office maintains all official academic records of degree seeking enrolled students including transcripts, registration forms, transfer credits and degree evaluations. For record keeping purposes, the College considers Web registration as part of a student's official record.
Clatsop Community College follows the Federal Health Education and Welfare Guidelines for the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 - Pell-Buckley Amendment (FERPA), which gives students attending post-secondary institutions the right to inspect their educational records. Those rights are:
1. The right to inspect and review their education records within 45 days of the day CCC receives a request for access.
Students should submit to the registrar written requests that identify the record(s) they wish to inspect. The registrar will make arrangements and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. The College reserves the right to withhold transcripts from students who are in debt to the institution. Students have the right to discuss the matter with a representative empowered to resolve such disputes.
2. The right to request the amendment of the student's education records that the student believes are inaccurate or misleading.
Students should write the registrar, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. If the College decides not to amend the record as requested by the student, CCC will notify and advise the student of the decision and of his or her right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. The College also will provide additional information regarding the hearing procedures.
3. The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student's education 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 is a person employed by CCC in an administrative, supervisory, academic, research or support staff position (including law enforcement unit personnel and health staff); a person or company with whom CCC has contracted (such as an attorney, auditor or collection agent); or a student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing there tasks. A school official has legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an educational record in order to fulfill their professional responsibility.
4. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by CCC 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, D.C. 20202-5901.
Directory/Release of information
CCCC has designated the following student data as “directory” information and it may be released without prior written authorization from the student:
- Name
- Address
- Major field of study
- Terms of attendance
- Degrees and awards received
If you do not want information released, you must indicate so in writing by completing a Request for Non-Disclosure of Student Information Form. These forms are available in the First Stop.
Clatsop Community College shall follow all applicable state and federal laws, rules, and regulations, which apply, to student records. All information contained in the college records which is personally identifiable to any student shall be kept confidential and not released except upon prior written consent of the subject student or upon the lawful subpoena or other order of a court of competent jurisdiction. Student information may be shared among college faculty and staff on an official (need to know) basis.
Students who do not wish the above information to be released by the College must submit a signed statement requesting that this information be withheld. Contact the Registrar's Office for the necessary form and additional information. The request to withhold information remains in effect until the student submits a signed statement indicating that directory information may be released. Students should keep the College notified of current addresses and telephone numbers. Students can update this information through their portal.
Information such as grades, progress in coursework, financial aid status and class schedule will not be released, except as authorized by law. If students wish to have this information released to parent/guardians, employers or other non-college entities, students must submit a "Release of Information" form, in writing, to Registrar's Office. The release is valid until revoked in writing by the student's submission of a new Release of Information form.
Release of directory information for military recruiting purposes
Under the Solomon Amendment Interim Rule to implement the National Defense Authorization Act of 1995 and of 1996, and the Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act, 1997, schools receiving Title IV funding must provide military access to directory information for students 17 years of age or older. For purposes of the act, directory information is defined as name, address, telephone listing, e-mail address, date and place of birth, level of education, degrees received and the educational institution in which the student most recently was enrolled. Students who have formally requested CCC to withhold all directory information from third parties will not be included.
Social Security Number/Information Consent
The College adheres to the following policy statement of the Oregon Department of Community Colleges and Workforce Development:
"Providing your social security number is voluntary. If you provide it, the College will use your social security number for keeping records, doing research, aggregate reporting, extending credit and collecting debts. Your social security number will not be given to the general public. If you choose not to provide your social security number, you will not be denied any rights as a student. Providing your social security number means that you consent to use of the number in the manner described."
OAR 589-004-0400 authorizes Clatsop Community College to ask students to provide their social security numbers. The numbers will be used by the college for reporting, research and record keeping. The numbers will also be provided by the college to the Oregon Community College Unified Reporting System (OCCURS ), which is a group made up of all community colleges in Oregon, the State Department of Community Colleges and Workforce Development and the Oregon Community College Association. OCCURS gathers information about students and programs to meet state and federal reporting requirements. It also helps colleges plan, research and develop programs. This information helps the colleges to support the progress of students and their success in the workplace and other education programs.
OCCURS or the College may provide a student's social security number to the following agencies or match it with records from the following systems:
State and private universities, colleges and vocational schools, to find out how many community college students go on with their education and to find out whether community college courses are a good basis for further education.
The Oregon Employment Department, which gathers information, including employment and earnings, to help state and local agencies plan education and training services to help Oregon citizens get the best jobs available.
The Oregon Department of Education, to provide reports to local, state and federal governments. The information is used to learn about education, training and job market trends for planning, research and program improvement.
The Oregon Department of Revenue and collection agencies only for purposes of processing debts and only if credit is extended to the student by the college.
State and federal law protects the privacy of student records. The social security number will be used only for the purposes listed above.