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Students walk between the breezeways at Pima's West Campus

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

FERPA is the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 which requires students to provide written permission for the release of their grades and other information. Pima informs its students annually of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974. This act was designed to protect the privacy of educational records, to establish the right of students to inspect and review their education records, and to provide guidelines for the correction of inaccurate or misleading data through informal and formal hearings. Pima intends to fully comply with the act.

The student’s academic record (grades, registration, progress, in-class information) will not be released to a parent or guardian or third party without the student’s signed permission release form. For additional information go to our FERPA Administrative Procedure (AP 3.11.01)

Grant Pima Permission to Release Information

Students who wish to grant the College permission to release certain information to a third party or who wish to withhold or release directory information must complete and submit the appropriate form:

College FERPA Practices

FERPA and Emergencies

FERPA permits PCC officials to disclose education records without student consent in an emergency, including personally identifiable information from those records, to protect the health and safety of students or other individuals. At such times, records and information may be released to appropriate parties such as law enforcement or public health officials, and trained medical personnel. This exception to FERPA’s general consent rule is limited to the emergency period and generally does not allow for a blanket release of personally identifiable information from a student’s education records.

FERPA and Disciplinary Records

While student disciplinary records are protected as education records under FERPA, there are certain circumstances where disciplinary records may be disclosed without the student’s consent. PCC may disclose to an alleged victim of any crime of violence or non-forcible sex offense the final results of a disciplinary proceeding conducted by PCC against the alleged perpetrator of that crime, regardless of whether the institution concluded a violation was committed. PCC may disclose to anyone - not just the victim - the final results of a disciplinary proceeding if it determines that the student is an alleged perpetrator of a crime of violence or non-forcible sex offense, and with respect to the allegation made against him or her, the student has violated PCC rules or policies.

FERPA and Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS)

FERPA permits PCC to comply with information requests from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and its Immigration and Customs Enforcement Bureau (ICE) to comply with the requirements of SEVIS. Officials who have specific questions about this and other matters involving international students should contact the U.S. Department of Education’s Family Policy Compliance Office.

FERPA and Transfer of Education Records

FERPA permits PCC officials to disclose any education records, including disciplinary records, to another institution where the student seeks or intends to enroll. While student consent is not required to transfer education records, PCC’s annual FERPA notification should indicate that such disclosures are made. In the absence of information about disclosures in the annual FERPA notification, PCC officials must reasonably attempt to notify the student about the disclosure unless the student initiates the disclosure.

Directory Information

The College may disclose directory information without prior written consent unless notified by the student in writing by the first official class meeting date of each semester. Directory information includes:

  • Student name
  • Major field of study
  • Participation in a College sponsored activity
  • Dates of attendance
  • Degrees, certificates, honors and awards received
  • Most recent educational institution attended
  • Enrollment status (i.e. full-time, three-quarter-time, half-time, less than half-time, withdrawn, graduated or deceased)
  • Expected graduation date
  • College-issued email address (e.g. jdoe@mail.pima.edu)

Student-Athlete Directory Information

The following is designated as Directory Information that may be Released without prior authorization only for Students who participate in officially recognized College sports:

  • Height
  • Weight
  • Photograph
  • Name and location of high school and/or last college attended

FERPA College Contact

520-206-4700
https://pima.edu/student-resources/student-policies-complaints/ferpa/index.html.

To File a Complaint Under FERPA

Students who need assistance or wish to file complaints under FERPA should do so in writing to the Family Policy Compliance Office, sending pertinent information concerning any allegations to the following address:

Pima Community College is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer and educational institution committed to excellence through diversity. Upon request, reasonable accommodations will be made for individuals with disabilities. Every effort will be made to provide reasonable accommodations in a timely manner. To request accommodation, please call (520) 206-6688 or Email: ADRHelp@pima.edu.

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