Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

Student Rights

Metro State maintains educational records for each student who has enrolled at the college. Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), 20 USC 1232g, and the implementing regulations published at 34 CFR part 99, each eligible student has the right to:

Inspect and review his or her educational records.
Request the amendment of educational records to ensure that they are not inaccurate, misleading or otherwise in violation of his or her privacy or other rights.
Consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in his or her educational records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent (e.g., disclosure of directory information, in health and safety emergencies, and in response to a court order of lawfully issued subpoena, etc.).
File a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education under 34 CFR 99.64 concerning alleged failures by the college to comply with the requirements of FERPA.
Obtain a copy of the college’s policy on student educational records from the Registrar’s Office (CN 105).

Procedure for Inspecting and Reviewing Educational Records

Students may inspect and review their education records upon a written request submitted to the Registrar, Central Classroom, Room 105, or by mail to Campus Box 84, P.O. Box 173362, Denver, Colorado 80217–3362.

The request shall identify as precisely as possible the record or records the student wishes to inspect.
The record custodian or an appropriate staff person shall make the arrangements for access as promptly as possible and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. Access must be given within 45 days from the receipt of the request.
When a record contains information about more than one student, the student may inspect and review only the records that relate to that student.

Procedure for Amending Educational Records

A student may make a written request to amend a record.

In the request, the student should identify the part of the record to be changed and specify why the student believes it is inaccurate, misleading, or in violation of the student’s privacy or other rights.
Metropolitan State College of Denver shall comply with the request or notify the student that the College will not comply with the request and advise the student of the student’s right to a hearing to challenge the information believed to be inaccurate, misleading or in violation of the student’s rights.
Upon written request, Metropolitan State College of Denver will arrange for a hearing and notify the student, reasonably in advance, of the date, place and time of the hearing.
The hearing will be conducted by a hearing officer who is a disinterested party, but who may be an official of the institution. The student shall be afforded a full and fair opportunity to present evidence relevant to the issues raised in the original request to amend the student’s education records. The student may be assisted by one or more individuals, including an attorney.
Metropolitan State College of Denver will prepare a written decision based solely on the evidence presented at the hearing. The decision will include a summary of the evidence presented and the reasons for the decision.
If Metropolitan State College of Denver decides that the challenged information is not inaccurate, misleading, or in violation of the student’s right of privacy or other right, it will notify the student that the student has a right to place in the record a statement commenting on the challenged information and/or a statement setting forth reasons for disagreeing with the decision.
The statement will be maintained as part of the student’s education records as long as the contested portion is maintained. If Metropolitan State College of Denver decides that the information is inaccurate, misleading, or in violation of the student’s rights, it will amend the record and notify the student, in writing, that the record has been amended.

Nondisclosure and Exceptions

Pursuant to FERPA, the college will not disclose a student’s educational records without the written consent of the student except to college officials; to officials at other institutions in which the student seeks to enroll; in connection with providing financial aid to the student; to accrediting agencies in carrying out their functions; to federal, state or local authorities auditing or evaluating the college’s compliance with education programs; to consultants conducting studies on behalf of the college; in compliance with a judicial order or subpoena; and in connection with a health or safety emergency involving the student. The college may release directory information, and does make lists of student directory information available to outside businesses who request such information, without the prior written consent of the student. Students who do not wish their directory information included in these lists should submit, in writing to the Registrar’s Office, a request for nondisclosure of their directory information. This request should be submitted to the Registrar’s Office, CN 105 or fax to (303) 556–3999. A request for nondisclosure will remain in effect until the student is no longer enrolled or cancels the request for nondisclosure.

Directory Information

Metro State has designated the following categories of personally identifiable information on students as directory information under section 438(a) (5) (B) of FERPA:

Name, address and telephone number
Student classification
Major and minor fields of study
Participation in officially recognized activities and sports
Weight and height of members of athletic teams
Dates of attendance at the college
Degrees and awards received
Last educational institution attended
Requests for Directory Information must be submitted in writing to the Registrar’s Office (CN 105). Employers or their agents may request information directly from the Registrar’s Office without submitting a written request. Two working days should be allowed to accommodate requests for information.

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