FERPA Overview

What is it and who is eligible?

The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974 is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. These rights transfer to the student when he or she reaches the age of 18 or attends a school beyond the high school level. Students to whom the rights have transferred are referred to as "eligible students." College policy 5040 details how the college handles student records.

Student Records

The college complies with the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). We do not release or disclose the contents of your educational records without your written consent. An academic record includes, but is not limited to the following:

  • Admission and Registration Records
  • Transcript Information
  • Financial Aid Records
  • Disciplinary Records
  • Tuition Amounts
  • Your ctcLink ID Number

Exceptions

The law allows us to release directory information without your consent under some circumstances. These circumstances include:

  • school officials with legitimate educational interest;
  • other schools to which a student is transferring;
  • specified officials for audit or evaluation purposes;
  • appropriate parties in connection with financial aid to a student;
  • organizations conducting certain studies for or on behalf of the school;
  • accrediting organizations;
  • to comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena;
  • appropriate officials in cases of health and safety emergencies; and
  • state and local authorities, within a juvenile justice system, pursuant to specific state law.

Contact information and age is also released to Military Recruiters as required under the Solomon Act.

Disclosure of directory information about you

In accordance with FERPA, the College may disclose “directory” information about you without a formal Release of Information. “Directory” information includes, but is not limited to:

  • Student’s name
  • Major field of study
  • Enrollment status (e.g. full-time or part-time)
  • Dates of attendance
  • Participation in recognized activities and sports
  • Degree or certificate earned
  • Term degree or certificate awarded
  • Honors

Shoreline College is committed to protecting you from any violation of your privacy, and therefore this information is never sold or given at random to outside agencies that may wish to solicit your business. View Shoreline's complete FERPA policy in the college catalog.

Your Rights as a Student

  • You have the right to block the release of directory information.
  • You have the right to inspect your educational records.
  • You have the right to request a copy of your educational records.
  • You have the right to ask that a correction be made to your educational records if you believe the information contained in the records is incorrect.

FERPA for Parents, Families, and Friends

To better support you, we're happy to refer you to some online resources below.

Request to change directory information  

If you wish to limit the directory information about you, please contact Enrollment Services in FOSS or call (206) 546-4611.