Legal Policy

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

1. The right to review education records within 45 days of the day the college receives a request for access. Students should identify the record(s) they wish to inspect in written requests submitted to the Registrar’s Office, the Dean or other appropriate official. The college official will make arrangements for access and will notify the student of when and where the records may be inspected. If the records are not maintained by the College official to whom the request was submitted, that official will advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed.
   
   
2. The right to request the amendment of an education record that the student believes is inaccurate. Students may ask the college to amend such a record by writing the college official responsible for the record, clearly identifying the part of the record they want changed and specifying why it is inaccurate. If the college decides not to amend the record as requested by the student, the college will notify the student of the decision and advise the student of his or her right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the student when he or she is notified of the right to a hearing.
   
   
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 the college in an administrative, supervisory, academic or research, or support staff position (including law-enforcement unit personnel and health staff); a person or company with whom the college has contracted (such as an attorney, an auditor, or a collection agent); a person serving on the board of trustees; or a student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility. Another exception to this right is directory information. FERPA designates certain information related to students as directory information and gives the college the right to disclose such information to anyone who requests it without having to ask students for permission, unless the student specifically requests in writing that all such information not be made public without his or her written consent. The following items are considered directory information: student’s name, address, telephone number, e-mail address, photographs, major field of study, dates of attendance, degrees and awards received, most recent previous education agency or institution attended by the student, class (year in school), activities, and current enrollment status. Currently enrolled students may withhold directory information by notifying the Registrar’s Office in writing anytime within a semester of enrollment. Requests for nondisclosure will be honored by the college until the student submits a signed authorization requesting that it be removed.
   
   
4. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by West Suburban College of Nursing to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the office that administers FERPA is as follows:

Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202-5901

Terms of Use

The information on this website is provided by West Suburban College of Nursing. While we try to keep the information as accurate as possible, we do not imply any warranty or representation about its accuracy or completeness, or appropriateness for a particular purpose. By using the West Suburban College of Nursing website you assume full responsibility for using the information at this site, and you understand and agree that West Suburban College of Nursing is neither responsible nor liable for any claim, loss, or damage resulting from its use. The mention of specific products, services, or providers at this site does not constitute or imply a recommendation or endorsement by West Suburban College of Nursing, unless it is explicitly stated.