FERPA

Georgia College, in compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974 which is designed to protect the student's rights with regard to educational records maintained by the institution. Under this Act, a student has the following rights:

The right to inspect and review the student’s educational record within 45 days of the day the University receives a request for access.
Students should submit to the Registrar, Dean, and head of the academic department, or other appropriate official, written requests that identify the record(s) they wish to inspect. The University official will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where records may be inspected. If the records are not maintained by the University official to whom the request was submitted, that official shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed.
The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the student believes are inaccurate or misleading.
Students may ask the University to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading. They should write the University official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading.
If the University decides not to amend the record as requested by the student, the University 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.
The right to consent to disclosures 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 University 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 University has contacted (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 educational record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility.
Upon request, the University discloses education records without consent to officials of another school in which a student seeks or intends to enroll. (FERPA) requires an institution to make a reasonable attempt to notify the student of the record request unless the institution states in its annual notification that it intends to forward records on request.
The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by Georgia College 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
600 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202-4605

Directory Information
At its discretion Georgia College may provide directory information in accordance with the provisions of the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act. Directory information is defined as that information which would not generally be considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if disclosed. Designated directory information at Georgia College includes the following:

student name
date and place of birth
major field of study
class status
participation in officially recognized activities and sports
weight and height of members of athletic teams
dates of attendance
enrollment status (including hours enrolled)
degrees and awards received
most recent previous school attended

Questions on the University's procedures regarding release of academic information may be directed to the Office of the Registrar, 107 Parks Hall, (478) 445-6286.