Student Privacy - FERPA

FERPA Defined

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) provides current and former students with the right to inspect and review educational records, the right to seek to amend those records, the right to limit disclosure of information from the records and the right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education. Applicants or students may also waive their rights to inspect confidential letters or statements of recommendation.

Directory Information

Treasure Coast Technical College officials may not disclose personally identifiable information about a student nor permit inspection of their records without the student's written permission unless such action is covered by certain exceptions permitted by FERPA. Under the provisions of the Act, a college may disclose information about a student if it has designated that the information is "Directory Information." Treasure Coast Technical College has designated the following as Directory Information:

  • student's name
  • date and place of birth
  • address
  • telephone number
  • email address
  • previous institution(s) attended
  • dates of attendance
  • enrollment status (full/part time)
  • expected date of graduation
  • class standing
  • major field of study
  • academic honors or awards received
  • past and present participation in officially recognized sports or activities
  • physical factors (height, weight of athletes)
  • degrees conferred (including dates)

Official Records

All official educational and financial aid records for students are stored in locked fireproof file cabinets at Treasure Coast Technical College. The Records Specialist and/or designated staff at the main campus are responsible for maintaining official educational and financial aid files. FOCUS maintains the electronic student database information.

In accordance with FERPA, the student's consent is not required when a school official has a legitimate educational interest in the student's educational record; that is, if the official needs to review this information in order to fulfill his/her professional responsibility. However, this does not constitute authorization to share that information with a third party without the student's written consent. A "school official" is: a person employed by the school in an administrative, supervisory, academic or research, or support staff position; a person or company with whom the school has contracted (such as an attorney, auditor or accrediting agent); a person employed by Treasure Coast Technical College Administration; a person serving on the school Council; or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks.