Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA)

Maintaining confidentiality of student records is everyone's responsibility.

Annually, Housatonic Community College informs students of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, as amended by publishing the information in the College Catalog and the Student Handbook. This Act (Formerly known as the Buckley Amendment), which the institution intends to comply with fully, has been designated to protect the privacy of educational records. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect to their education records.

The following is considered "Directory Information" by the Connecticut Community College System. College policy precludes releasing this information publicly except as needed under the "legitimate educational interest" in the performance of assigned duties. Students who want this information to be confidential must notify the Registrar in writing within the first 2 weeks of the semester. Forms are available upon request.

Directory Information:

• Student's Name
• Addresses
• Dates of Attendance (semesters)
• Full vs. Part-Time Status
• Awards, Honors, and Graduation Date

All other information is considered non-directory information and, with some exceptions, requires the written consent of the student for the release of information to any third party.