FERPA: Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
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The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974, as amended, is a federal law which concerns the confidentiality of student education records.
AACC Policy
The policy of the college is to protect and distribute a student’s educational records, including, but not limited to, any personally identifiable information, in accordance with the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.
The Board of Trustees hereby authorizes the President, or his/her designee, to develop and establish appropriate procedures to implement and enforce this policy.
See FERPA: Family Education Rights and Privacy Procedures. A student’s FERPA rights begin on the first day the student begins attending classes at AACC.
Attendance Records
- Attendance will be taken and recorded in all classes.
- The registrar reserves the right to deny certification of attendance or withdraw such certification due to unacceptable absences in classes and/or lack of substantive participation in distance education courses.
- A student who has never been registered or has been dropped from a class, through his or her own action or omission by the college, will not be reinstated into a class after 20% of the class has been completed.
Change of Name, Address and Phone
Students are required to notify the Records and Registration office of changes including name, address or telephone number. For address or telephone number changes, students should complete the demographic information change form or use MyAACC. The college uses United States Postal Service standard address abbreviations and spellings.
Requests for name changes must be accompanied by supporting documentation consistent with the U.S. Department of Education Regulations. In order to change a first name, students must submit an official court document, marriage certificate, or certificate of naturalization. Changes to last name require an official court document, marriage certificate, or driver’s license.
Please note: Post office boxes may be used as mailing addresses, but cannot be used as a legal address for residency purposes. Students who wish to receive college mail at a post office box must submit proof of legal residence before the post office box can be used.
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Enrollment Verification/Full Time, Part Time Student Status
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Request official verification of enrollment at the Records and Registration office. Anne Arundel Community College designates a full-time student as one enrolled for the equivalent of 12 credit hours. Students enrolled for fewer than 12 credit hours are classified as part time. Some health professions students registered in a clinical sequence course are considered full time when enrolled in fewer than 12 credit hours. |
Education Records
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Education records include any record maintained by the college directly related to a student or students. These records include admission, academic, billing, financial aid, advising, and placement testing. FERPA gives students the right to inspect and review information contained in their own education record, to challenge the content of the records, and allows for a formal hearing if resolution is not met. The registrar coordinates the inspection and review process for student education records. |
Confidentiality
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The college does not disclose information from a student’s education record without the student’s written consent. Exceptions may include: to college officials with a legitimate educational interest; when providing directory information; in compliance with the Solomon Amendment; to those who, in an emergency, must protect the health or safety of students or others; and as authorized in the federal regulation. |
Directory Information
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FERPA allows the registrar to release student directory information. This information may include name, address, AACC ID#, AACC email address, telephone numbers, program of study, full-time or part-time enrollment status, terms enrolled, degrees and honors earned, and participation in officially recognized college activities or sports. The college typically releases only name, terms enrolled, full-time or part-time enrollment status, and degrees earned as directory information. To have directory information withheld, notify the registrar in writing. Anne Arundel Community College does not generally provide student directory information when it is requested for solicitation and/or commercial purposes. |
Law Enforcement Unit Records
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The college may disclose law enforcement unit record to anyone, including federal, State, or local law enforcement authorities, without the consent of student or parent. A law enforcement record is defined as a record that is: created by the law enforcement unit; created for a law enforcement purpose; and maintained by the law enforcement unit. |
Transcripts
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Request copies of official academic transcripts, letters of recognition or continuing education noncredit transcripts in writing, mailed, faxed or via MyAACC, to the Records and Registration office, AACC at Arundel Mills, the Glen Burnie Town Center or the Fort Meade Army Education Center. The offices process transcripts within three business days of receiving requests. Official academic transcripts are only issued for students who have taken coursework at Anne Arundel Community College.
The college reserves the right to withhold official transcripts and other services from students in debt to the college. These debts include tuition, fees, fines, worthless checks and other college fees. Students may discuss these actions with the vice president for learner support services or the vice president’s designee.
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