FERPA

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Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974

Wayne Community College supports the rights and privacies afforded each student by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 and is in compliance with its provisions.

The statute governs access to records maintained by certain educational institutions and the release of such records. In brief, the statute provides:

• that such institutions must provide student access to official records directly related to the student and an opportunity for a hearing to challenge such records on the grounds that they are inaccurate, misleading or otherwise inappropriate;
• that institutions must obtain the written consent of the student before releasing personally identifiable data about the student from records with the exception of:
  • A. directory information (Directory information is defined as the student’s name, major field of study, dates of attendance, full-time or part-time status, and degrees and awards received.)
    • NOTE: Any student who does not wish the college to release any or all of the information designated as directory information without the student’s written consent must notify the Office of Admissions and Records (Learning Center Building, Room 109) immediately.
  • B. school officials, including teachers within the educational institution or local educational agency who have been determined to have legitimate educational interests;
  • C. officials of other schools or school systems in which the student seeks or intends to enroll, upon condition that the student must be notified of the transfer, receive a copy of the record if the record is desired, and have an opportunity to challenge the content of the record;
  • D. authorized representatives of (1) the Comptroller General of the United States, (2) the Secretary, (3) the Commissioner, the Director of the National Institute of Education, or the Assistant Secretary for Education or state educational authorities;
  • E. in connection with a student’s application for, or receipt of, financial aid;
  • F. state and local officials or authorities to which such information is specifically required to be reported or disclosed pursuant to state statute adopted prior to November 19, 1974;
  • G. organizations conducting studies for, or on behalf of, educational agencies or institutions for the purpose of developing, validating or administering predictive tests, administering student aid programs, and improving instruction, if such studies are conducted in such a manner as will not permit the personal identification of students and their parents by persons other than representatives of such organizations and such information will be destroyed when no longer needed for the purpose for which it is conducted;
  • H. accrediting organizations in order to carry out their accrediting functions;
  • I. parents of a dependent student, or such parents, as defined in section 152 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954; or
  • J. in compliance with judicial order, or pursuant to any lawfully issued subpoena, upon condition that students are notified of all such orders or subpoenas in advance of compliance therewith by the educational institution.

Student records (admission papers, registrations, grades and other supporting data) are maintained in the Office of Admissions and Records. Any student wishing to challenge the content of her or his educational records that are maintained in this office should notify the Directory of Admissions and Records in writing.

Any additional information concerning the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 may be obtained in the Office of Admissions and Records.

Your current residential classification, for purposes of applicable tuition rates, is required to be changed if, since original establishment of your current classification, your state of legal residence has changed.

1. If you currently are classified as a nonresident for tuition purposes, it is your right to petition for a change in classification to that of resident if you claim that you are now and, for at least the twelve-month period immediately preceding the date of such petition, have been a legal resident of the State of North Carolina. If it is determined that, in fact, you have been a legal resident for the required twelve-month period, the effective date of change in applicable tuition rates shall be the beginning of the next academic term following the date of application for tuition change, provided, that a change in billing rate may be made retroactive to the beginning of an academic term during which application was made if the twelve-month period is found to have been satisfied as of the beginning of that term.
2. If you currently are classified as a resident for tuition purposes, it is your obligation to petition for a change in classification to that of a nonresident f you have reasonable basis for believing that change in fact requires such a change limited to, cancellation of enrollment. If it is determined in fact you have become a nonresident, the effective date of change in applicable tuition rates shall be the next semester, quarter, or term following the date of change in facts which required the change in classification, unless you are deemed eligible to further enjoy the in-state tuition rate under the statutory twelve-month grace period.

Copies of the applicable North Carolina law and institutional regulations which govern such classification determinations are available in the WAYNE COMMUNITY COLLEGE LEARNING RESOURCE CENTER, which is located on the third floor of the Learning Center Building, for inspection upon request. You are responsible for being familiar with the contents of these two sources of regulation.

Authorization To Release Information Form (PDF)