Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

Bryan College of Health Sciences is subject to the regulations and requirements of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974. Under the provisions of this act, students have specific rights related to their educational records:

  • The right to inspect and review the student’s records within 45 days of the day the College receives a request for access.
  • The right to request the amendment of any educational records that a student believes are inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy rights under FERPA. If the College decides not to amend the record as requested, it 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.
  • The right to provide written consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information (PII) contained in a student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. (See the partial list below of circumstances in which FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent).
  • The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the 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

Circumstances in which FERPA permits the disclosure of PPI without consent include, but are not limited to (more detailed information is provided in the FERPA regulations at 34 C.F.R. Part 99), the following:

  • To other school officials, including faculty, staff and administrators within the College whom the College has determined to have legitimate educational interests. This includes contractors, consultants, volunteers, or other third parties to whom the school has outsourced institution services or functions;
  • To officials of another school where the student seeks or intends to enroll, or where the student is already enrolled if the disclosure is for purposes related to the student’s enrollment or transfer;
  • In connection with financial aid for which the student has applied or which the student has received, if the information is necessary to determine eligibility for the aid, determine the amount of the aid, determine the conditions of the aid, or enforce the terms and conditions of the aid;
  • To parents of an eligible student if the student is a dependent for IRS tax purposes;
  • To comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena, or as otherwise required by law;
  • Accrediting organizations;
  • Organizations conducting certain studies on behalf of the College;
  • The sharing of PPI between the College and Bryan Medical Center for the purposes of facilitating ongoing operations, supporting the educational mission of the College, and meeting their respective legal obligations;
  • To appropriate officials in connection with a health or safety emergency;
  • To a victim of an alleged perpetrator of a crime of violence or a non-forcible sex offense (such disclosure may only include the final results of the disciplinary proceeding with respect to that alleged crime or offense, regardless of the finding);
  • To the general public, the final results of a disciplinary proceeding, if the College determines the student is an alleged perpetrator of a crime of violence or non-forcible sex offense and the student has committed a violation of the College’s rules or policies with respect to the allegation made against them;
  • To parents of a student regarding the student’s violation of any Federal, State, or local law, or of any rule or policy of the College governing the use or possession of alcohol or a controlled substance if the school determines the student committed a disciplinary violation and the student is under the age of 21;
  • Information the College has designated as “directory information”.

FERPA rights accorded to parents of K-12 students are transferred to students who are 18 years of age or are attending institutions of postsecondary education.