Notification of Student Rights Regarding Educational Records

Education Records

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (“FERPA”) affords students certain rights with respect to their “Education Records”. In accordance with Board Policy 07.11 – Confidentiality of Student Records, Lake Land College maintains only those “Education Records” which are essential to the process and procedures required to develop and maintain an accurate academic record for each student and to support such student accounting needs and requirements as are imposed by state and federal law and regulations and College policies and operational procedures students may inspect and review their records upon written request.

Personably identifiable information contained in a student’s Education Record is considered confidential and will not be released without the written consent of the student, except as authorized under FERPA and/or its implementing regulations. Requests for Education Records shall be fulfilled through the College’s Admissions and Records Office, which has responsibility for maintaining and disclosing Education Records.

Directory Information

The College has designated the following information as “directory information”: student name, mailing address, College e-mail address, enrollment status (full-time or part-time), student classification, major field of study, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of members of athletic teams, dates of attendance, degrees and awards received, most recent previous school attended, and photograph. Any student objecting to his or her directory information being made public must file notice in writing of such objection with the
Admissions and Records Office.

Student Optional Disclosure of Private Mental Health Information

Pursuant to the Student Optional Disclosure of Private Mental Health Information Act (Illinois law, Public Act 099-0278), a student has the right to authorize the College, in writing, to disclose their private mental health information to a person of the student’s choosing. Additional information is available in the Student Optional Disclosure of Private Mental Health Information section of the Student Handbook and Right to Know Information. Students may also contact the offices of Admissions, Counseling Services and the Vice President for Student Services.

Student Rights with Respect to Educational Records

FERPA affords students certain rights with respect to their educational records. These rights include:

1. The right to inspect and review the student’s educational records within 45 days of the day the College receives a request for access. A student should submit a written request to the appropriate College official identifying the record(s) the student wishes to inspect. The College official will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records maybe inspected. If the records are not maintained by the College official to whom the request was submitted, that official shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed. Students may contact the Dean of Admissions Services for assistance with identifying the appropriate College official.
2. The right to request amendment of the student’s educational record that the student believes is inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy rights under FERPA. A student who wishes to ask the College to amend a record should present a written request to the College official responsible for the record, clearly identifying the part of the record the student wants changed, and specifying why it should be changed. If the College decides not to amend the record as requested, the College will notify the student in writing of the decision and the student’s 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.
3. The right to provide written consent before the College discloses information from the student’s educational records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent including “directory” information as described above and to “school officials with legitimate educational interests”. A school official is a person employed by the College; a person or company with whom the College has contracted as its agent to provide a service (such as an attorney, collection agent, mental health or medical provider); 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 legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an educational record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibilities for the College.
4. The right to file a complaint with the US Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the College to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The office that administers FERPA is:
   Family Compliance Office
   U.S. Department of Education
   400 Maryland Avenue, SW
   Washington, DC 20202-5901