Erie Community College, State University of New York

Confidentiality of Records

Student information is protected by the Family Education and Privacy Act (FERPA) established by the Department of Education on November 19, 1974. The regulation provides explicit directions governing the disclosure of student information. College Registrars are designated to be the holders of the cumulative academic record. As such, they are charged with the responsibility, other federal/state regulations, and professional standards as set by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Offices (AACRAO).

Information regarding a student’s personal file should be disseminated to third parties only by the office responsible for the collection and maintenance of that information. With the advent of an integrated file system, student information is more readily accessible to faculty and staff. Each individual associated with Erie Community College has a responsibility to be conscious of the rights of students and a need to protect the appropriate office which collects and maintains the information before conveying verbally or in writing information about a student to a third party.

Students may elect to have withheld what is termed Directory Information. The Registrars have on file the names of students who have requested that certain information not be released. You may, should you convey information regarding a student to a third party, be in violation of Federal Regulation and a student’s right to privacy.

Public Notice Designating Directory Information

Erie Community College hereby designates the following categories of student information as public or directory information. Such information may be disclosed by the institution for any purpose, at its discretion:

1. Name, address, telephone number, dates of attendance, class.
2. Previous institution(s) attended, major field of study, awards, honors (includes dean’s list), and degree(s) conferred including dates.
3. Past and present participation in officially recognized sports and activities, physical factors (height, weight of athletes).

Currently enrolled students may withhold disclosure of any category of information under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974. To withhold disclosure, written notification must be received in the Campus Registrar’s Office by October 1/February 1. Non-disclosure of information will commence immediately thereafter and be effective until September 30 of the following year. Written notification to withhold disclosure must be made each academic year. ECC assumes that failure on the part of any student to specifically request the withholding of categories of directory information by the deadline date indicates individual approval for disclosure.