Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA)
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) regulates access to and release of educational records. Generally, the Act defines “education record” as personally identifiable information which applies directly to a student that is maintained by CAC. Some education records, such as student name, residence address, email address, telephone number, program of study, classification (freshman or sophomore), status (full- or part-time), participation in officially recognized activities and sports, degrees and awards received, and previous institutions attended by the student, are considered “directory information.”
Students are entitled to access both types of their education records: nondirectory information (e.g., class schedules, grades) and directory information. Third parties, however, may not access nondirectory information without the student’s prior written consent.
With respect to directory information, the Act allows the college to elect (1) not to disclose directory information of any student to third parties or (2) to disclose directory information to third parties unless the student has requested that it not be disclosed (opted out). CAC policy is not to disclose directory information to third parties other than the Department of Defense (see below).
Student may wish to allow third parties to access their education records. For example, a student may permit a parent to see class registration and grades. Students may consent for education records to be released to third parties using the “My FERPA" tab in the student portal. The consent must be renewed each year.
Effective March 19, 1997, colleges are required to provide directory information to the Department of Defense. Students may request in writing that this information not be released by contacting the Admissions and Registration office.
Student Records
Student records are maintained within the Admissions and Records Office. For additional information, please contact admissions@centralaz.edu.