Riverside Community College District adheres to the policies of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) when establishing and maintaining education records. Although the college applies the provisions of FERPA in a strict manner, the law allows the college to release student directory information. RCCD, based on FERPA regulations, designates as directory information the following: student’s name, major field of study, dates of attendance, enrollment status, (e.g., full-time/part-time) participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of members of athletic teams, and degree and awards received.

Students have the opportunity to request that their directory information be maintained as confidential. In completing the admission application, students are provided this opportunity. Students who are continuing students at RCCD may go to the Student Services office and request to have directory information withheld.

The student’s prior written consent is not required to disclose non-directory information under specific conditions according to FERPA regulations. (Included under this provision is the ability to disclose education records to parents of a student under 18 years of age as defined in Section 152 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. Refer to www.rccd.edu/Pages/FERPA.aspx for more information.)

The Family Education Right and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect to their education records.
These rights include:

  1. The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days of the date RCCD receives a request for access. Copies are not provided if the student has an outstanding financial or other hold on the records. The District may assess a charge pursuant to Board Policy Regulation 3300 for furnishing copies of any education record. Students should submit to the Admissions & Records, dean, head of the academic department, or other appropriate official, written requests that identify the record(s) they wish to inspect. The RCCD official 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 RCCD official to whom the request was submitted, 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 that the student believes are inaccurate or misleading. Students may ask RCCD to amend records that they believe are inaccurate or misleading. They should write the RCCD official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record they want to change, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. If RCCD decides not to amend the record as requested by the student, RCCD will notify the student of the decision and advise the student of his or her right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedure will be provided to the student when notified of the right to a hearing.
  3. The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorized disclosure without consent. One exception which permits disclosure without consent is disclosure to college officials with legitimate educational interests. A college official is a person employed by RCCD in an administrative, supervisory, academic or research, or support staff position (including law enforcement unit personnel and health staff); a person or company with whom RCCD has contracted (such as an attorney, auditor, collection agent or agents or organizations conducting studies on behalf of the college); a person serving on the Board of Trustees; or a student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another college official in performing his or her tasks. A college official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an educational record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility. Upon request, RCCD discloses education records without consent to officials of another school in which a student seeks or intends to enroll.
  4. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by RCCD to comply with the requirements of FERPA.

The Riverside Community College District is dedicated to maintaining the absolute integrity of all student records as well as protecting the student’s rights of access to those records. To this end, Administrative Regulations for granting of requests to inspect and review records are detailed in Board Policy 5040.

Students have the right to stop the use of their social security number in a manner otherwise prohibited by law by submitting a written request to Admissions & Records, along with a photo I.D. It is the responsibility of the student to update WebAdvisor to advise the Admissions & Records Office of any change in address or telephone number. Change of information forms are also available from Admissions & Records at any of the district colleges.