FSC Privacy Statement

STUDENT RECORDS POLICY

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 as amended (PL 93-0280), better known as “FERPA”, directs how student education records are maintained. When a student enters college, FERPA rights transfer from parents or legal guardians to the student, regardless of the student’s age. Florida Southern College defines that a student “enters college” on the date of matriculation into the college. Thus, parents/guardians hold FERPA rights during the Admission process but, at the point of matriculation, rights to all education records (even rights to access to that prior information) are transferred to the student. The four student FERPA rights include:

1. FERPA provides opportunities for students to inspect and review their education records within 45 days of a written “request for access” identifying the records of interest to FSC’s FERPA Compliance Officer (please see below).
2. FERPA provides paths for students to seek amendment to education records they believe to be inaccurate or misleading. A written request should be made to FSC’s FERPA Compliance Officer (please see below).
3. FERPA gives students the right to file a complaint with the College Compliance Officer (please see below).
4. FERPA allows students the right to provide written consent before the College discloses Personally Identifiable Information from the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent, including:
• Florida Southern College officials, including (but not limited to) administrators, supervisors, staff (including law enforcement units and health center officials), teachers, board of trustees members, contractors, consultants, volunteers, or students working in an official capacity for the college, with “legitimate educational interests”, who require information for the proper performance of their professional responsibilities
• Officials at an institution at which a student seeks to enroll for purposes of enrollment/transfer
• Organizations conducting studies or audits for educational and governmental agencies Accrediting agencies
• Appropriate persons in case of health or safety emergencies Agencies or offices in connection with the student’s application for or receipt of financial aid, as necessary
• Governmental officials, as identified in Public Laws 93.31 & 99.35
• Parents of students who are defined as dependents in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986
• Parents of students (1) younger than 21 years of age or (2) who are dependents for tax purposes regardless of student age for violations of campus alcohol and drug policies
• An appropriate official in response to a court order
• An alleged victim of a crime of violence or a non-forcible sex offense concerning the final results of an investigation
• The general public, if the school determines a student is an alleged perpetrator of a crime of violence or non-forcible sex offense and the student has committed a violation of the school’s rules or policies with respect to the allegation(s) made against her/him
• Information the College identifies as Directory Information (with caveat)

For a complete list of exceptions, for further questions, for concerns about College FERPA compliance practices, or to request to inspect, review, or amend records, please contact the College’s FERPA Compliance Officer Dr. Marcie Pospichal

• 111 Lk. Hollingsworth Dr., Lakeland, FL 33801
• email: mpospichal@flsouthern.edu
• telephone: (863)680-4197

NOTE: Although the college may disclose information under the conditions above, it is under no obligation to do so and may make such a determination on a case-by-case basis at its discretion. The only individual to whom the college is required to release student education record information is to the student.

FERPA gives students the right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by Florida Southern College 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

For additional privacy information, see the the full disclosure at: https://www.flsouthern.edu/policies/heoa-disclosures.aspx

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