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Annually,
Smith College is required to inform students of the Family
Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA). Following
is a brief summary of the rights afforded to all students
under the Act. More specifically, Smith College's policy concerning
this Act and information regarding procedures for accessing
records are printed in the Smith
College Handbook. Copies of the college's policy can also
be obtained from the Office of the Registrar in College Hall
and online at the registrar's office
website.
Currently
enrolled students should be aware that certain information,
designated as "directory information," may be released
without your prior consent. Such information at Smith College
includes name, home address (while in college), college address
and telephone, e-mail address, dates of attendance, major,
degrees (including dates) and awards, extracurricular activities
(if known), previously attended institutions and pictures.
You may withhold the release of this information by
completing the appropriate form available from the Office
of the Registrar. Written authorization to withhold
directory information must be made each academic year and
must be submitted within five days of the start of the fall
semester in order to ensure non-disclosure in printed materials.
Please
note: Student pictures are available through the Smith online
directory. As is the case with faculty and staff photos, the
photos are accessible to campus users only. If you have a
concern and wish to block the display of your picture from
the online directory, you may do so by completing the necessary
form in the registrar's office.
Students may authorize the release of information from their education records to their parents by completing the appropriate form at the registrar's office.
Questions concerning the
Family Rights and Privacy Act may be referred to
the Office of the Registrar, College
Hall, Room 6.
The Family Educational Rights
and Privacy Act affords students certain rights with respect
to their
education
records. These
rights are:
1) The right to inspect and review the student's
education records within 45 days of the day the institution
receives
the request for access. Students should submit to the
appropriate college official (registrar, director of
career development,
director of health service) written requests which identify
the record(s) they wish to inspect. The college official
will notify the student of the time and place where the
records may be inspected. If the records are not
maintained by the official to whom the request was submitted,
that official shall advise the student of the correct
official to whom the request should be addressed.
2)
The right to request the amendment of the student's
education records that the student believes are inaccurate
or misleading. Students may ask the college to amend
a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading.
They should write the college official responsible
for the record,
clearly identify the part of the record they want changed,
and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading.If the
college decides not to amend the record as requested
by the student,
the college will notify the student of the decision
and advise the student of his or her 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.
3) The right to
consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information
contained
in the student's
education records,
except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure
without consent. One exception which permits disclosure
without
consent is disclosure to school officials with legitimate
educational interests. A school official is a person
employed by the institution in an administrative,
supervisory, academic or research, or support staff position
(including
law enforcement personnel and health staff); a person
or company with whom the institution has contracted
(such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent);
a person
serving on the Board of Trustees; or a student serving
on an official committee, such as a disciplinary
or grievance committee or assisting another school official
in performing
his or her tasks. A school official has a legitimate
educational interest if the official needs to review
an
education record in order to fulfill his or her professional
responsibilities.
4)
The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of
Education concerning alleged failures by Smith College to
comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name
and address of the office that administers FERPA are:
Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
600 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20202-4605
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