Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

In accordance with the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (P. L. 9-380) as amended (P. L. 93-568-Buckley Amendment), persons of any age who attend a postsecondary educational institution that receives federal funding are hereby informed of the right to inspect and review their official education records. Bossier Parish Community College considers attendance to begin on the first day of classes. Students should submit to the Registrar or another appropriate College official written requests that identify the record(s) they wish to inspect. If the records are not maintained by the College official to whom the request was submitted, that official shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed.

BPCC assumes that all students are independent unless the parents document dependence. Parents may so document by showing that the student is listed as a dependent on the parents’ latest income tax return. Additionally, all students are encouraged to fill out the FERPA Access Code Form at the time of admission to the College. If the form is not delivered in person, a copy of a state or federal ID must be submitted with this form when emailed or faxed.

BPCC is responsible for maintaining student records and supervising the release of any information on its students. All records that contain information directly relating to a student and are maintained by BPCC or by a party acting for the institution are considered part of the student’s permanent record. The academic records at BPCC are housed in the Registrar’s Office. The discipline records are housed in the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Services. The Campus Police Log is housed in the office of the Chief of Campus Police. These records are used only for specified purposes. BPCC is committed to protect the right of privacy for all its students. When records are no longer pertinent to the student or the College, they are destroyed as indicated by College policy. Students are provided annual notification of FERPA rights in the Student Handbook. The College cannot deny a student access to his/her records, but may deny a student a copy of his/her education records when the student has an unpaid financial obligation to the College or an unresolved disciplinary action against him/her.

As provided by law, the College may release directory information unless the student requests that any or all such information be withheld. Requests must be made to the Admissions/Registrar’s Office by the end of the second week of class. The College identifies directory information as student’s name, student ID number, date and place of birth, address, telephone number, electronic mail address, major field of study, and participation in officially recognized activities and sports, to include height and weight of student-athletes, dates of attendance, degrees and awards received, most recent previous school attendance, and photograph.

The College may release student education records without the written consent of the student:

To school officials who have a legitimate educational interest in the records. A school official is a person employed by the College in an administrative, supervisory, security, academic or research, or support staff position; or a student who is serving on an official committee, such as disciplinary or grievance committee or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility;
To officials of another school, upon request, in which a student seeks or intends to enroll;
To certain officials of the U.S. Department of Education, the Comptroller General, and state and local education authorities in connection with certain state or federally supported education programs;
In connection with the student’s request for receipt of financial aid;
If required by state law;
To organizations conducting studies;
To accrediting organizations to carry out their functions;
To parents who claimed the student for income tax purposes;
To comply with a judicial order or a lawful subpoena;
To appropriate parties in health or safety emergencies;
For directory information so designated by the College; or
As otherwise permitted by FERPA.

Correction of Educational Records

A student has the right to ask to have records corrected that he/she believes are inaccurate, misleading, or in violation of his/her privacy rights. A student must notify the Admissions/Registrar’s Office or the Vice Chancellor for Student Services to request to amend the record.

If the College does not correct the student’s record, the student is entitled to a hearing before an impartial officer of the College. Students who feel that their rights have been abridged may file a complaint with The Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education.

Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
600 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202 – 4605

For more information on FERPA, please visit the following links:

NOTE: Bossier Parish Community College is committed to protecting the privacy rights of students; even so, students must be cognizant of the limits to privacy protection inherent in the design of Internet communication technology.

For further information you may contact us at studentservices@bpcc.edu.