It is the policy of Western Nebraska Community College to comply with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974 as amended by the Higher Education Amendments of 1998 (34 CFR Part 99).

A copy of this law is on file in Student Services Office. The law provides three fundamental rights to students who attend postsecondary institutions:

• Right to inspect and review education records
• Right to request amendment education records
• Right to limit disclosure of “personally identifiable information” contained in education records

Additionally, students have the right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education:

Family Policy and Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
4000 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202-4605

In compliance with FERPA, the following items are considered directory information:

• Student’s name
• Address
• Telephone listing
• Electronic mail address
• Date and place of birth
• Major field of study
• Enrollment status (e.g., undergraduate or graduate; full-time or part-time)
• Grade Level
• Dates of Attendance
• Degrees, honors and awards
• Most recent previous educational agency attended or institution attended
• Participation in officially recognized activities and sports
• Weight and height of members of athletic teams

In the event a student does not want the directory information released, he/she must submit, in writing, the specific information to be withheld to the Student Services Office. This must be done each semester that the exclusion is to apply.

The FERPA revisions of 1998 permit schools to notify parents of students who are under the age of 21 if such student has been found responsible for violating institutional policies regarding alcohol and other drugs.