Students, who are currently or formerly enrolled, regardless of their age or status in regard to parental dependency, are protected.

Students who have applied to but have not attended Richland Community College and deceased students do not come under FERPA guidelines.

With certain exceptions, an education record is any record (1) from which a student can be personally identified and (2) is maintained by the college. Education records include any records in whatever medium (handwriting, computer media, print, e-mail, magnetic tape, film, diskette, microfilm and microfiche, video or audio tape, etc.) that is in the possession of any school official.

Directory Information is information that is generally not considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if disclosed. Under the terms of FERPA, Richland Community College, has established the following as directory information:

• Name
• Address
• Telephone number
• E-mail address
• Grade level
• Date and place of birth
• Program in which enrolled
• Participation in officially-recognized institutional or extracurricular activities
• Dates of attendance
• Certificates or degree(s) conferred (including dates)
• Honors and awards received
• Most recent educational institution or agency attended
• Student ID number, user ID, or other unique personal identifier used to communicate in electronic systems that cannot be used to access education records without a PIN, password, etc.

The above information may be released for any purpose at the discretion of our institution. However, FERPA states that each student has the right to withhold any or all of the information. Richland Community College will honor the student's request to restrict the release of “Directory Information.” Once restricted, that information cannot be released without the written consent of the student. The Request to Opt Out of Directory Information form must be on file with the Office of Student Records. This form also prevents your name from appearing in the newspaper for honors, graduation and/or other awards or in the graduation program.

At the postsecondary level, parents have no inherent right to inspect a student's education records. The right to inspect is limited solely to the student. Records may be released to parents ONLY under the following circumstances: (1) through the written consent of the student, (2) in compliance with a subpoena, or (3) by producing a copy of the most recent Federal Income Tax form showing that the student was claimed as a dependent.

In order for a third party (i.e., parent) to receive information about a student (i.e., their son or daughter), Richland Community College must have on file in the Office of Student Records a Student Information Release Authorization Form. This form may be completed in person in N134 or online through myRichland.

For the Statement of Nondiscrimination and Equal Opportunity please CLICK HERE.