Help Resources - FERPA (Family Education Rights & Privacy Act)

Confidentiality / FERPA

Access to a Blackhawk Technical College student’s educational record is governed by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) and in conjunction with the Wisconsin Technical College System and Wisconsin Statutes.

FERPA is a law which protects the educational records of students. A student’s official educational records are all paper and electronic records kept about the student which relate to being a student. Under FERPA, students have the right to access or deny access to their records. In compliance with these laws, the College annually, through the Student Handbook/Planner and the Student Catalog, notifies students of their rights regarding student information.

A student’s official education record is confidential and shall not be released to anyone except the student except under the following conditions:

1. A Release of Student Records form (see Confidential Information Release Authorization below), duly signed by the student or a parent/legal guardian, is received and on file with the Blackhawk Technical College’s Director of Student Services.

2.  A request for specific information is received from a court or in compliance with judicial order pursuant to any lawfully issued subpoena.  Only the specific information will be provided.

Students do have the right to inspect their education records. The process to do so is:

Submit a written request for the inspection of identified records to the Student Services Manager. The Student Services Manager will contact you with a day, time and place for the inspection.

 

The notification and inspection shall occur within 45 days from the receipt of the written request for inspection on records.

 

After inspection, the student has the right to request the amendment of student education records that the student feels are inaccurate or misleading. They should write the Student Services Manager, clearly identifying the part(s) of the record that they want changed, and specify why they feel the record(s) is inaccurate or misleading. 

 

If Blackhawk Technical College decides not to amend the record as requested, the College will notify the student of the decision and advise the student of his or her right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment.

 

However, anyone can request what is termed “directory information”. Each institution defines what they consider to be directory and non-directory information. The student also has the right to withhold any directory information that they wish from any third party (see the Privacy Request Form below) A third party is anyone inside or outside of the College who does not have an “educational need to know” the information in the student record as a necessary part of their job. Under FERPA, parents are third parties, with no rights to the record.  

 

Disciplinary records are any records kept in the process of a disciplinary proceeding conducted by the Student Services Manager’s office which may be of an academic or non-academic nature.

Directory Information  (Public record released to any inquiry (for non-commercial use) UNLESS recorded as confidential in Banner)

• Student’s Name

• Current mailing address (MA address in Banner) and telephone number

• Participation in officially recognized activities and sports

• Date of birth and place of birth

• Major field of study

• Full-time or part-time enrollment status

• Dates of attendance

• Degrees and awards received

• Date(s) of degree(s)

• Most recent, previous educational institution attended by student (includes high school)

• Photographs

Non-Directory Information (Protected from inquiry)

• Student’s Gender

• Social Security Number (complete or partial)

• Student ID Number (generated by Banner)

• Graduation status; course work yet to be completed

• Residency status

• Class rank

• Current academic standing (probation, suspension, petitions, readmit status etc)

• GPA

• Transcript: Official or unofficial

• Grades earned

• Credits earned

• Parent or guardian name or address

• Fees paid

• VA, Social Security Status

• Class Schedule

Should the student feel that Blackhawk Technical College has allegedly failed to comply with the requirements of FERPA the student can contact the U.S. Department of Education to file a complaint. The name and address of the office, within the Department, that administers FERPA complaints is:

Family Policy Compliance Office

U.S. Department of Education

600 Independence Avenue, SW

Washington, DC  20202-4605

• Privacy Request Form (PDF)
• Confidential Information Release Authorization Form (PDF)