Confidentiality of Student Records

 

Student Records Policy

Student records are protected in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 as amended (FERPA). Student records will only be released upon written authorization from the student. Under FERPA, Hudson County Community College may release “directory information” without prior consent of the student. Directory information may include: name, address, telephone listing, electronic mail address, date and place of birth, photographs, field of study, enrollment status (full-/part-time), degrees and awards given, dates of attendance, most recent previous school attended, and grade level. A student who wishes to prevent the disclosure of directory information must submit a written request to the Office of the Registrar no later than the tenth day of the start of each semester. FERPA is applicable to high school students taking courses with HCCC.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect to their education records. An “eligible student” under FERPA is a student who attends a postsecondary institution.

These rights include:

  1. The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days after the day Hudson County Community College receives a request for access. A student should submit to the Office of the Registrar, Academic Dean or Program Director, or other appropriate official, a written request that identifies the record(s) the student wishes to inspect. The school official will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. If the records are not maintained by the school official to whom the request was submitted, that official shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed.
  2. The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the student believes is inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy rights under FERPA. A student who wishes to ask the school to amend a record should write the Office of the Registrar for the record, clearly identify the part of the record the student wants changed. If the school decides not to amend the record as requested, the school will notify the student in writing of the decision and the student’s right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment.  Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the student when notified of the right to a hearing.
  3. The right to provide written consent before the university discloses personally identifiable information (PII) from the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.
  4. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by Hudson County Community 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

Contact Information

Registrar's Office
70 Sip Ave., 1st Floor
Jersey City, NJ 07306
Phone: (201) 360-4120
Fax: (201) 714-2136
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