Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

FERPA gives parents certain rights with respect to their children’s education records. These rights transfer to the student when they have reached the age of 18 or are ready to attend a school beyond high school level. Students to whom the rights have transferred are “eligible students.”

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) requires that Eastern International College, with certain exceptions, obtain the students’ written consent prior to the disclosure of personally identifiable information from your education records. FERPA rights belong to students who attend post-secondary institutions in person, through correspondence, or through electronic “distance learning”.

Generally, schools must have written permission from the parent or eligible student in order to release any information from a student’s education record. However, FERPA allows schools to disclose those records, without consent, to the following parties or under the following conditions (34 CFR § 99.31):

  • School officials with legitimate educational interest;
  • Other schools to which a student is transferring;
  • Specified officials for audit or evaluation purposes;
  • Appropriate parties in connection with financial aid to a student;
  • Organizations conducting certain studies for or on behalf of the school;
  • Accrediting organizations;
  • To comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena;
  • Appropriate officials in cases of health and safety emergencies; and
  • State and local authorities, within a juvenile justice system, pursuant to specific State law.

Eastern International College reserves the right to:

  • Inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days of the date the College receives a request for access. 
  • Request the amendment of a student’s education records that the student believes is inaccurate or misleading.
  • File a complaint with the US Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the College to comply with the requirements of FERPA. 
    • The College reserves the right to make public, without the student’s consent, “directory information,” in particular, the student’s name, address, age, sex, dates of registration, major, and degree
    • Students who wish not to have directory information released must notify the Registrar’s Office in writing each year.

Parents or eligible students have the right to inspect and review the student’s education records maintained by the school. Schools are not required to provide copies of records unless, for reasons such as great distance, it is impossible for parents or eligible students to review the records. Schools may charge a fee for copies.

For additional information, you may call 1-800-USA-LEARN (1-800-872-5327) (voice). Individuals who use TDD may use the Federal Relay Service. Or you may contact us at the following address:

Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20202-8520

American With Disabilities Act Policy

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (“ADA”) and the NJLAD, Eastern International College does not discriminate based on disability. The College will endeavor to make every work environment handicap accessible.

References

Mannino, N. (2018, June 14). What Is FERPA and How Does It Impact Guardians and College Students? What Is FERPA and How Does It Affect My College Student?. Retrieved from https://www.apu.edu/articles/what-is-ferpa-and-how-does-it-impact-parents-and-college-students

United States Department of Education. (2018, March 1). Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Retrieved from https://www2.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/ferpa/index.html.