Apply

FERPA

THE FAMILY EDUCATIONAL RIGHTS AND PRIVACY ACT OF 1974 (FERPA)

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99) is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. The law applies to all schools that receive funds under an applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education.  FERPA gives parents certain rights with respect to their children’s education records. These rights, however, transfer to the student when he or she reaches the age of 18 or attends a school beyond the high school level. In order for us to release a transcript to or discuss a student’s account with a parent, the student must authorize us to do so.  Release of Information forms must be completed by students, in person, through the Office of Academic Affairs.

For a detailed description of FERPA, click here. 

 

Marion Military Institute FERPA Policy & Student Rights

A. The student Notification of Rights Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect to their education records, which include the following:

  1. Students have the right to inspect and review their educational records. Students must submit a written request to the Office of the Registrar that identifies 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 record is not maintained by the Registrar, they shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed.
  2. Students have the right to request amendment(s) of their educational records that they believe are inaccurate or misleading. A student should write the College official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why the record is inaccurate or misleading.  If the College does not agree as to the accuracy of the record, the student may request a hearing before the Academic Appeals Committee.   If the student does not agree with the Committee’s decision, the student has a right to place a statement with the record, setting forth their view about the contested information.
  3. Students have the right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in their educational records, except to the extent that 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 and health staff), a person or company with whom the College has contracted (such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent), or a student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if a review of an education record fulfills his or her professional responsibility.
  4. Students have 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.

B.  Access to Student Records

Under the provisions of FERPA, all students and former students have the right to inspect their educational records in the Office of the Registrar.  This right of inspection does not apply to any information submitted to this office as confidential prior to January 1, 1975, nor to access by students to financial records of parents. Parents or guardians of a dependent student 18 years of age or older may gain access to a student record under certain provisions as specified by law; otherwise, parents or guardians of a dependent student 18 years of age or older may not see records or receive any grades unless the student specifically designates that their records and/or grades be made available to the parents or guardians. Release of Information forms must be completed by students, in person, through the Office of Academic Affairs.

C.  Directory Information

Under the Federal Family Educational and Privacy Rights Act, 10 U.S.C. 1232g, Marion Military Institute may disclose certain information as “directory information.” Directory information includes the following: name, home address, email address, telephone number, dates of attendance, enrollment status, major fields of study, degrees and awards earned, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of members of the athletic teams, photographs, and most recent educational institution attended. If any student has an objection to any of the aforementioned information being released during any given semester or academic year, the student should provide a written request to the Office of the Registrar during the first three weeks of the respective semester for the information to be blocked.

D.  Transcripts

Marion Military Institute will release transcripts of a student’s work only upon written request from the student.  A student’s request for the release of an MMI Transcript should be completed through the MMI website: https://marionmilitary.edu/academics/transcript-request-2/.   The College reserves the right to deny the release of a transcript if a student has outstanding financial obligations or outstanding admissions requirements to the College.