Review and Challenge of Student Educational Records
Upon request to the Registrar, a record covered by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act will be made available to the student within a reasonable time and no later than 45 days after the request. Copies are available at the student's expense and explanations and interpretations of the records may be requested from the official in charge. If the student believes that a particular record or file contains information that is inaccurate, misleading, or is in violation of the student’s privacy rights, the student may ask to amend the record. The university will decide whether to amend the record within a reasonable time of the request. If the university decides not to amend the record as requested, it will notify the student in writing of its decision and the right to a hearing. Prior to any formal hearing, the official in charge of the record is authorized to attempt, through informal meetings and discussions with the student, to settle the dispute.
If the student is still dissatisfied, a hearing may be requested on the basis that the information is inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the privacy rights of the student. The hearing, conducted by a hearing officer appointed by the president, will be held within two weeks. The student will have the opportunity at the hearing to present any relevant evidence, and any applicable administrator may also present relevant evidence regarding the information in the record, and a decision will be rendered within two weeks after the hearing. If, as a result of the hearing, the university decides that the information is inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the privacy rights of the student, it will amend the record accordingly and inform the student of the amendment in writing.
If, as a result of the hearing, the university decides that the information in the education record is not inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the privacy rights of the student, it will inform the student of the right to place a statement in the record commenting on the contested information in the record or stating why he or she disagrees with the decision of the university, maintain the statement with the contested part of the record for as long as the record is maintained, and disclose the statement whenever it discloses the portion of the record to which the statement relates.
