Student Handbook - Wilson Community College

• To educational agencies in de-identified, aggregate form;• To schools in which a student seeks or intends to enroll (the College will make an attemptto notify the student that records are being provided);• To the Comptroller General of the United States;• To the Attorney General of the United States;• To the Secretary of the Department of Education;• Federal, State and Local educational authorities involving a research, audit, or evaluationof compliance with education programs;• In connection with financial aid (such as the administration or continuation of aid);• In the event of a health or safety emergency where the information is required to resolvethe emergency;• Information that is considered directory information, so long as the student has not requestednondisclosure of this information;• That is a result of a disciplinary hearing where the student is the perpetrator of a crime ofviolence or a nonforcible sex offense. Under this exception, information may be released toanyone, including the media. No information on the victim or witnesses may be released;• Of a student under the age of 21 who has committed a drug or alcohol related offense (e.g.reporting the offense to the parents of the student).• The College complies with changes made to FERPA as a result of the USA Patriot Act.Directory InformationFERPA allows for the disclosure of directory information as identified by the institution.Wilson Community College has designated the student’s name, address, telephone listing,electronic mail address, major field of study, dates of attendance, participation in officiallyrecognized activities, most recent education agency or institution attended and degrees, honors,and awards received as directory information. The College may disclose this informationonly, upon request, to other educational colleges and/or universities and will publish degrees,honors, and awards received. A student has the right to refuse designation of any or all of thisdirectory information by notifying the Director of Admissions/Registrar, in writing, within 10days of the student’s initial enrollment.Right to File a ComplaintA student has a right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education. There aretwo basic requirements for a complaint to be properly filed against an institution in relationto FERPA infractions:• The complaint must be made within 180 days of when the infraction was discovered.• There must be sufficient facts (evidence) to prove the violation.The Family Policy Compliance Office, U. S. Department of Education, 400 IndependenceAve., SW, Washington, D.C. 20202-4605 is the office responsible for enforcing/administeringthe Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act and should be contacted to file a complaint.Electronic Devices PolicyAll electronic devices, including but not limited to pagers, cell phones, radios, two-way radios,music players, cameras, book readers, and electronic games must be turned off in classrooms,labs, the library, or any other environment on campus where their use may be viewed asdisruptive to the educational environment, except where their use is specifically part of theinstructor’s direction to students for that class.With prior approval from the instructor, cell phones may remain on for students who areemployed or volunteer for a public safety organization. Such use of the cell phone must be workrelated only, and approval may be revoked at any time it becomes disruptive to the classroom.30