FERPA Privacy Act

We want to take this opportunity to give you a brief summary of your rights as an enrolled student at Lehigh Carbon Community College under The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), the federal law that governs release of and access to student education records.  These rights include:  

"The Buckley Amendment"

Lehigh Carbon Community College agrees with the intent of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 which is:

1.  The right to inspect and review the student's education records within 45 days of the day LCCC receives a request for access. Students should submit to the Director of Enrollment Services written requests that identify the record(s) they wish to inspect. The Director of Enrollment Services will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. If the records are not maintained by Enrollment Services to whom the request was submitted, the Director of Enrollment Services will 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 is inaccurate or misleading. Students may ask LCCC to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading. They should write the Director of Enrollment Services for the record, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. If LCCC decides not to amend the record as requested by the student, LCCC 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 limited disclosure 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 college in an administrative, supervisory, academic or research, or support staff position (including law enforcement unit personnel and health staff); a person or company with whom the College 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 responsibility.

The College may disclose education records without consent in certain circumstances:

  • To comply with a court order or certain types of subpoenas
  • To appropriate parties in a health or safety emergency
  • To officials of another school, upon written request in which a student seeks or intends to enroll
  • In connection with a student’s request for or receipt of financial aid, as necessary to determine eligibility, amount or conditions of the financial aid, or to enforce the terms and conditions of the aid
  • To certain officials of the U.S. Department of Education, the Controller general, to state and local educational authorities, in connection with certain state or federally supported programs
  • To accrediting organizations to carry out their functions
  • To organizations conducting studies for or on behalf of the College
  • The results of an institutional disciplinary proceeding against the alleged perpetrator of a crime of violence may be released to the alleged victim of that crime with respect to that crime.

4.  The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by LCCC to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA is:

                              Family Policy Compliance Office
                              U.S. Department of Education
                              400 Maryland Avenue, SW
                              Washington, DC 20202-5920

 Accessible records do not include financial records of a student's parents, confidential letters, statements and/or recommendations which were placed in the educational records prior to January 1, 1975.

Directory Information Release
The law provides that the college may make "directory information" available at its
discretion. However, students may request the Enrollment Services Office that such information pertaining to them not be made available. "Directory information" includes: names; address; email address; telephone listing; date and place of birth; major field of study; participation in officially recognized activities and sports; weight and height of members of athletic teams; dates of attendance; degrees and awards received; the most recent previous educational agency or institution attended by the student; and full- or part-time enrollment status. The college does not make "directory information" available commercially but only to authorized inquirers. Release of student information to the US military is under the regulations of the Solomon Amendment.  A "Student Request to Prevent Disclosure of Directory Information" form can be completed in the Enrollment Services Office and will remain in effect until the student notifies the Enrollment Services Office in writing of their wish to release directory information.

Questions concerning FERPA should be referred to the Director of Enrollment Services.