Freedom from Improper Disclosure (FERPA)

In compliance with Public Law 93-380, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, Wayne State College has established a comprehensive written policy regarding the maintenance and safeguarding of student educational records. A copy of this policy is on file in each school and administrative unit of the college for reference and review by students who have questions about the records policy.

Educational records will not be released without written permission of the student or parent of the student who is a dependent as defined by Section 152 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954. The college will presume that written permission must be granted by the student unless proof has been provided the college showing that the student is a dependent in which case the written permission for the release of the educational records must be granted by the parents.

Essentially, this policy protects the confidentiality of records, and describes rights of access to those records. The following information summarizes the rights and protection under this policy:

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A. A student has the right to inspect, review, and challenge information contained in his/her educational records. "Educational Records" include transcripts, credentials, files, documents and other information directly related to academic or professional performance that are maintained by various officials of Wayne State. A student does NOT have access to records maintained by a psychiatrist, psychologist, or professional counselor in connection with treatment. These records may, however, be reviewed by a physician or other appropriate professional of the student’s choosing. A student may not have access to financial declarations or records that parents file in connection with financial aid applications, confidential letters and statements of recommendation placed in the educational records before January 1, 1975, counseling or psychiatric referral information, or to any record which the student has waived the right to access (for example, a "closed" placement file). Staff. Within the Wayne State College community, only those members acting in the student's- 74 - educational interest are allowed access to student educational records. These members include personnel in Student Services and faculty members within the limitations of their need to know.

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B. Release of Information. No one outside the institution shall have access to nor will the institution disclose any information from a student’s educational records without the written consent of the student, except to authorized personnel within the institution in which students seek to enroll, to persons or organizations providing student financial aid, to accrediting agencies carrying out their accreditation function, to law enforcement agencies of Nebraska where such student is under investigation by such agencies and the agency shows that such data is necessary for the investigation, to persons in compliance with a judicial order, and to persons in an emergency order to protect the health or safety of students or other persons.

Certain information considered to be "public" or "directory" information may be released without the student’s written consent, unless the student files a notarized statement in the Office of Records and Registration at the beginning of each term restricting the release of such information.

"Directory information" at Wayne State includes the following: name, address, telephone number, email address, date and place of birth, field of study, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of athletic team members, dates of attendance, degrees and awards received, prior educational institutions attended, full/part-time enrollment.

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C. Disciplinary Records. Records of student disciplinary proceedings are maintained separately from academic records. Information from these records will not be made available to unauthorized persons within the College or to any person outside the College without the expressed written consent of the student involved (or the parents of dependent students) except as allowed by the Family Education and Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), under legal compulsion, or where the safety of others is involved.

Records with names deleted and kept confidential will be made available for governmental or College-approved research.