FERPA

Overview

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. FERPA applies to all educational institutions that receive federal funding, including Arkansas Baptist College.

Student Rights Under FERPA

Under FERPA, eligible students (students who are 18 years of age or older or who attend a postsecondary institution) have the following rights:

1. Right to Inspect and Review: Students have the right to inspect and review their education records within 45 days of submitting a written request to the Registrar.
2. Right to Request Amendment: Students may request amendment of records they believe are inaccurate, misleading, or in violation of their privacy rights.
3. Right to Consent to Disclosure: Students have the right to consent to the disclosure of personally identifiable information from their education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.
4. Right to File a Complaint: Students may file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education regarding alleged failures by the institution to comply with FERPA.

Directory Information

Arkansas Baptist College has designated the following as directory information, which may be disclosed without prior consent:

• Student name
• Address (local and permanent)
• Telephone number
• Email address
• Date and place of birth
• Major field of study
• Classification (freshman, sophomore, etc.)
• Dates of attendance
• Degrees and awards received
• Most recent previous institution attended
• Participation in officially recognized activities and sports
• Photographs

Students who wish to restrict the release of their directory information may do so by submitting a written request to the Office of the Registrar.

Permitted Disclosures Without Consent

FERPA permits disclosure of education records without student consent in certain circumstances, including:

• To school officials with a legitimate educational interest
• To other schools to which a student is transferring
• To specified officials for audit or evaluation purposes
• In connection with financial aid
• To comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena
• To appropriate parties in a health or safety emergency
• To accrediting organizations

Filing a Complaint

Complaints regarding alleged violations of FERPA may be filed with:

Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202

Contact

For questions about FERPA or your education records, contact:

Office of the Registrar
Arkansas Baptist College
1600 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive
Little Rock, AR 72202
Phone: 501-420-1200
Email: registrar@arkansasbaptist.edu