FERPA - Privacy Act
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974 gives you, as a student, the right to review records, files, and other documents containing information about you as a student, which Century College maintains.
According to regulations issued by the Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare, you have the right to:
- Request a hearing to challenge the contents of your records if they are misleading or inaccurate.
- Include a written note in your records if the college does not make the changes that you request.
- File a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education if the college fails to comply with FERPA regulations. You can contact the office that administers FERPA at:
Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202-8520
A health and safety exemption permits the disclosure of personally identifiable information from a student’s record in case of an immediate threat to the health or safety of student or other individuals.
Century College will disclose personally identifiable information from an education record to appropriate parties in connection with an emergency if knowledge of the information is necessary to protect the health and safety of the student or other individuals.
Request for Non-Disclosure
Directory information can be released without authorization, unless you restrict release of the information. You can restrict release of your directory information by contacting the Records Office in writing or completing the Data Privacy form.
To prevent the release of student data printed in the graduation program, you must file a request in the Records Office no later than April 1st.
Disadvantages of restricting data
Students who restrict directory information should be aware that such restriction remains in effect until they formally notify the Records Office in writing to remove it, even after they graduate or cease enrollment.
By restricting directory information, Century College is unable to verify degrees earned, dates of attendance, or enrollment status to any third party (including future employers) while the restriction is in effect. If you restrict your name you should realize that your name will not appear in the printed graduation program and other Century publications. Also, third parties will be denied all of your directory data and will be informed that there is no information available about your attendance at Century College. If you wish to provide your directory information to a specific party or for a specific purpose, you may do so by providing written authorization to the Records Office.
For further information, contact the Records Office at 651-779-3299.
Directory Information
Century College Policy 2.11.0.1, Student Data Practices, pertains to student data information.
Century College has designated the following as directory information:
- Name
- Dates of enrollment
- Major field of study
- Degrees, Diplomas, Certificates and Honors received
- Status – full-time/part-time
- Dean’s List
- Height and weight of student athlete
Limited Directory Information
Century College Policy 2.11.0.1, Student Data Practices, pertains to student data information.
Century College designates the following information as limited directory data:
- Former and current students’ phone numbers, addresses and email addresses may be disclosed to Century Foundation and Alumni Association for events, fundraising and membership opportunities.
- Second year students’ addresses for access by system universities for marketing transfer opportunities.
- Student StarID and email address may be disclosed as part of the system-wide global address book.
- Student college-issued photo ID pictures may be used in college online learning and customer relationship management systems.
- Notwithstanding any other provision of this policy, the following information is defined as Limited Directory Data for purposes of sharing with LeadMN so the association can communicate with their members: Student name, institutional e-mail address, and Student Change Code (NEW/RTN/DROP).
Release of Student Information
Students may authorize Century College to release private information to individuals of their choosing or allow them to act on their behalf by completing the Authorization for the Release of Student Information form. This form needs to be submitted in-person by the student to the Records Office W2220 with a valid photo ID. Forms submitted by anyone other than the student will not be accepted.
Records of Deceased Students
Upon a student’s death, education records retain the same classification that applied prior to the student’s death and shall be handled in accordance with privacy laws applicable to data on decedents including, but not limited to, Minn. Stat. §13.10. Rights of the deceased student who is the subject of private or confidential data may be exercised by the representative of the deceased student. Nonpublic data concerning a deceased student that is created or collected after death, are also accessible by the representative of the deceased student.
The Registrar’s Office shall release nonpublic data on a deceased student under the following conditions:
Pursuant to a valid subpoena or court order, to the executor or representative of the deceased student’s estate or next of kin, if an executor or representative has not been appointed, upon showing applicable proof of the student’s death (i.e., death certificate or obituary notice) and written authorization by or identification of the executor, representative or next of kin, as applicable.