Student Privacy FERPA

Every student has certain rights regarding access to his/her own educational records and the disclosure of information from those records to others. The rights of IRSC students are clearly specified and protected by law as stated in FERPA Law and two District Board of Trustees Rules: 6Hx11-7.31 Student Records and 6Hx11-7.32 Student Directory Information.

The College maintains student records in accordance with federal laws, Florida statutes, and State Board of Education rules. Such records are confidential and exempt from F.S. 119.07(1) Public Records and are open to inspection only as provided in F.S. 1002.22 Education Records.

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, also known as the Buckley Amendment, is a federal law that sets forth requirements regarding the privacy of student records. FERPA applies to all student education records maintained at Indian River State College with limited exception.

FERPA rights transfer to all students who enter IRSC regardless of age. FERPA protects the privacy and access to education records of all students who are or have been in attendance.

Students have three primary rights under FERPA:

• The right to inspect and review their education records,
• The right to have some control over the disclosure of information from their educational records, and
• The right to request to amend their education records.

Answers to frequently asked questions are available through the United States Department of Education website. A complete version of the IRSC procedure for Educational Records and Privacy is printed in the College catalog.

IRSC defines a school official as the following: A school official typically includes a person employed by Indian River State College in an administrative, supervisory, academic, research, or support staff position (including law enforcement unit personnel and health staff); a person serving on the board of trustees; or a student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee. A school official also may include a volunteer or contractor outside of the Indian River State College who performs an institutional service of function for which the school would otherwise use its own employees and who is under the direct control of the school with respect to the use and maintenance of PII from education records, such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent or a student volunteering to assist another school official in performing his or her tasks.

IRSC defines legitimate educational interest as the following: A school official typically has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibilities for Indian River State College.

Forms

• Authorization for Non-Disclosure of Directory Information
• Authorization for Release of Educational Records
• Authorization for Release of Educational Records—Student Accessibility

Contact Student Records

The Student Records Office is located in W-Building on Main Campus in Fort Pierce. Contact us at 772-462-7460 or records@irsc.edu.

Hours

Fall and Spring Semester
Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Summer Semester
Monday through Thursday, 7:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., closed Friday