County College of Morris adheres to and annually informs students of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, as amended. This act was designated to protect the privacy of educational records. Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), students have certain rights with respect to their education records. They are:
1) The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days of the college receiving a request for access. Students should submit to the Registrar written requests that identify the record(s) they wish to inspect. The Registrar will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. If the records are not maintained by the Registrar, that official shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed.
2) The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records where the student believes the record is inaccurate or misleading. Students should write the college official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. If the college decides not to amend the record as requested by the student, the college will notify the student of the decision and advise the student of his or her right regarding the request of the amendment.
3) The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s education records, except to the extent FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.One exception which permits disclosure without consent is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the college in an administrative, supervisory, academic, research or support staff position (including law enforcement unit personnel), or a person or company with whom the college has contracted (such as an attorney, auditor or collection agent). A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record to fulfill his or her professional responsibility.
4) The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the college to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the office that administers FERPA is:
Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue SW
Washington, DC 20202-4605
FERPA provides for the confidentiality of student records. County College of Morris reserves the right to release, or not to release, directory information at the discretion of appropriate college officials.
Directory Information
- Student name
- CCM email address
- Field of study
- Dates of attendance
- Degrees and awards received
Students who wish to have directory information withheld must notify the Registrar in writing within the first two weeks of the Fall or Spring Semester. Upon receiving this written request, directory information will not be released without the student’s consent.
Non–Directory Information
No information, other than that listed in the directory information (as outlined), will be released without a student’s written consent except when prior written consent is not required by FERPA. The college must disclose educational records without written consent of students to those federal and state government agencies and officials provided by law. The college must also provide the access of education records to:
Personnel within the college determined by the college to have legitimate education interest. “Legitimate Education Interest” is defined as the demonstrated need to know by those college officials who act in the student education, professional employees and other persons who manage student record information.
Organizations contributing to a student’s financial aid or determining financial aid decisions concerning eligibility, amount, condition and enforcement of terms of said aid.
Accrediting organizations carrying out their functions.
Parents of a student who have established that student’s status as a dependent according to the Internal Revenue Code. (Parent(s) must provide a certified copy of the appropriate federal income tax form.)
Persons in compliance with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena, provided the college makes an attempt to notify the student. (The student will be notified in writing by the Registrar that a subpoena has been issued.)
Persons in an emergency, if the knowledge of information, in fact, is necessary to protect the health and safety of student(s) or other persons.
NOTE: Information concerning applicants to the college who have not yet enrolled (not registered for classes) will not be released to anyone.
FERPA for Parents
College is a big step not only for the students, but for parents. Most County College of Morris students are now adults, and have more independence than they did in high school. With this independence comes much more responsibility. As a college community, we want to work together with students and parents. As parents, you may join students during their in-person interactions at the college if the student invites you to participate. Please note, to comply with FERPA, we cannot release non-directory information to anyone except the student. If the student wishes a third party to have access to their non-directory information, follow these steps:
1. Log into Titans Direct
2. Click the “Person Icon”
3. Click “View/Add Proxy Access”
4. “Add a Proxy” select “Another User”
5. Enter all required information
6. Check the “Disclosure Agreement”
7. Click “Submit”
Solomon Amendment
The Solomon Amendment became effective on October 23, 1998. Under the Solomon Amendment, colleges and universities are required to fulfill military requests for student recruiting information. Failure to comply may result in the loss of various forms of federal funding and Federal Student Aid. Student recruiting information includes, but is not limited to:
- Student name
- Address
- Telephone number
- Date of birth
- Place of birth
- Class
- Major
- Degree(s) received
- Educational institutions attended
Under FERPA, students may request that directory information be withheld; this protection will be honored under the Solomon Amendment too. Students who wish to have their directory/recruiting information withheld must notify the Registrar in writing within the first two weeks of the Fall or Spring Semester. Upon receiving this written request, recruiting information will not be released without the student’s consent.