Privacy Policy

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974 restricts unauthorized access to students’ educational records.

These consist of the following records:

Career Services Office: placement files, test scores (GRE, GMAT, etc.)

Education Department: teacher certification records

Financial Aid Office: financial aid records

Public Relations Office: student information forms

P.R. information

Records Office: academic transcript, registration information, application for admission, high school transcript, college transfer work, test scores, work evaluations, letters of recommendation, activities lists, general correspondence

Student Life Office: disciplinary records, immunization records

Work Office: work records

The following records are exempt from FERPA regulations and may not be viewed by students:

1. personal notes of faculty and staff;

2. medical and counseling records used solely for treatment;

3. financial records of parents;

4. confidential letters and statements of recommendations placed in student files prior to January 1, 1975;

5. confidential statements of recommendation of admission, employment or honorary recognition placed in student files after January 1, 1975, for which the right to inspect and review has been waived by the student.

Records are not maintained in a central location on campus. Requests to review them must be made separately, in writing, to each office that maintains them. Written requests must be given with reasonable advance notice (at least 24 hours). A fee (ten cents per page) is charged for reproducing copies of records. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act grants offices forty-five days to honor requests to view and copy such information.

The College routinely releases the following directory information when requested (unless students provide a written request that the information not be released):

1. dates of attendance;

2. major field of study;

3. classification by year;

4. degree earned, if any;

5. photograph;

6. home address;

7. home telephone number;

8. campus housing assignment/mailbox number;

9. campus telephone extension;

10. campus e-mail addresses;

11. athletic rosters (name, weight and height);

12. work program participation.

Other information, including parents’ names and addresses, marital status, rank in class, participation in extracurricular activities, religious preference, etc. will not be released without prior written consent of the student.

The law permits school officials (defined as: any person who is a trustee, officer, agent or employee of Blackburn College--also included are students serving on college committees where legitimate “need to know” exists.) to use information contained in the students’ educational records for internal use, and under certain circumstances to provide it to others, including the use of this information in the event of an emergency. This information will not, however, be used in the College Directory, in public releases or be made available to the public without consent of the student.

Prior written consent from students is needed before records can be disclosed to third parties unless they are exempted from the law. Exemptions include releases:

1. to faculty and staff with a legitimate educational “need to know” (“Legitimate educational interest” or “need to know” means the information or records requested is relevant and necessary to complete an assigned task and the task is an employment responsibility for the requestor or is properly assigned subject matter for the requestor’s employment or committee responsibility.);

2. in accordance with a lawful subpoena or court order;

3. to representatives of agencies or organizations from which students have received financial assistance;

4. to others specifically exempted from prior consent requirements of the act (including certain federal and state officials, organizations conducting student surveys on behalf of the College, accrediting organizations, etc.);

5. of “directory information”;

6. to parents of dependent students (as determined by the Financial Aid Office according to IRS regulations);

7. to the United States Office of Immigration and Naturalization Service (for international students only);

8. in emergencies where the information is necessary to protect health and safety of the student or others.