MATC Matters

BULLETIN 08-24-07

TO: All employees

FROM: Learner Success

RE: Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

DATE: August 24, 2007

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law designed to protect the confidentiality of students’ educational records. Information that must be handled in a secure and confidential way includes: student information displayed on a computer screen, student schedules, class rosters, class assignments, grades, grade rosters, transcripts, degree audits, or ANY printed material with the student’s identification or other personally identifiable information.

The College MAY release “Directory Information.� MATC has identified the following as directory information:

• Student Name
• Major Field of Study (Program)
• Degrees and awards received
• Participation in officially recognized activities and sports
• Weight and height for members of athletic teams
• Dates of attendance (term start/end dates – not specific dates)
• Enrollment Status (full or part-time)
• Email address

It is important to note that students have the right to restrict the disclosure of any information and may do so by contacting the Truax Enrollment Center, room 159, or by calling 608.246.6210. If you receive a request to disclose student information, please contact the Enrollment Center.

All MATC employees requesting access to student records and/or to the Student Information System must undergo training prior to accessing student information. Along with the rights to access comes the responsibility to maintain the privacy rights of students. If you have not completed your on-line FERPA training, it is important that you do so by going to BlackBoard, FERPA Training, and complete the tutorial (it will take about 15 minutes).

Thank you for your attention to and cooperation with this important policy protecting the confidentiality of student information. If you have any questions regarding FERPA, please contact Jennifer Hoege, Enrollment Center Manager at 608/246-6944.