Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

Access to student information

Students’ rights concerning access to educational records are outlined in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, as amended. These rights include:

• providing students with the opportunity to inspect their educational records (Contact the Records Office at 402-457-2353 for an appointment.);
• providing students with the opportunity to challenge through a hearing the content of their educational records if it is believed that they contain information that is inaccurate or misleading (Contact the Records Office at 402-457-2353 for an appointment.); and
• limiting disclosure of information from students’ records to those who have students’ written consent or to officials specifically permitted within the law, such as College officials and—under certain conditions—local, state, and federal officials.

Students who wish to grant parental, spouse, or third-party access to their educational records may do so by submitting an Authorization to Release Student Information form to the Records office.

Metropolitan Community College will not disclose any personally identifiable information about students (except directory information listed below at the discretion of the College) without the written consent of the student. Each student, however, has the right to restrict the release of any or all of this information by submitting a Request to Opt Out of Directory Information form or sending in a written request to the Records Office. MCC’s directory information may include (at the discretion of the College):

• major field of study
• credit hour status (full- or part-time for the term)
• start and end dates of attendance (start date of first quarter of when classes were taken and end date of the last quarter when classes were completed only)
• degrees and awards received
• student’s name
• student's address
• date of birth

Students have the right to restrict access to their directory information by completing a Request to Opt Out of Directory Information form. By completing this form, students are requesting that directory information not be released to non-College personnel. As a result of the decision to request confidential status, students should know:

• all address changes must be made in person with a form of ID;
• no information can be given to friends or relatives trying to locate a student through MCC;
• information as to student status is suppressed, so loan companies, prospective employers, family members, etc., are informed that MCC has no record of the student’s attendance; and
• the graduation program or any other official publication does not contain the student’s name.

Students who object to the disclosure of any of the above information and would like it withheld from disclosure may notify the Records Office in writing at:

Metropolitan Community College

Attn: Records Office

P.O. Box 3777

Omaha, NE 68103-0777