FERPA

Lake Washington Institute of Technology has adopted procedures to comply with Public Law 93-380, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA).

Directory Information under FERPA for Postsecondary Institutions

The law permits the college to make available to the public directory information:

• Student name
• Dates of enrollment
• Degrees or Certificates earned
• Program of study
• Honors awards received
• Full or part-time enrollment status
• Eligibility for participation in official activities and organizations
• College assigned email address

Students who choose to be excluded from the student directory as defined in Public Law 93-380 are requested to file a petition with Enrollment Services, West Building, W201.

Notification of Rights under FERPA for Postsecondary Institutions

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect to their education records.  These rights include:

1. The right to inspect and review the student's education records within 45 days of the day Lake Washington Institute of Technology receives a request for access.
   
   A student should submit to the registrar, dean, head of the academic department, or other appropriate official, a written request that identifies the record(s) the student wishes to inspect.  The Lake Washington Institute of Technology official will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected.  If the records are not maintained by the Lake Washington Institute of Technology official to whom the request was submitted, that official shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed.
   
   
2. The right to request the amendment of the student's education records that the student believes are inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student's privacy rights under FERPA.
   
   A student who wishes to ask Lake Washington Institute of Technology to amend a record  should write the official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record the student wants changed, and specify why it should be changed.
   
   If Lake Washington Institute of Technology decides not to amend the record as requested, Lake Washington Institute of Technology will notify the student in writing of the decision and the student's right to a hearing re­garding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the student when notified of the right to a hearing.
   
   
3. The right to provide written consent before Lake Washington Institute of Technology discloses personally identifiable information from the student's education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without con­sent.
   
   Lake Washington Institute of Technology discloses education records without a student's prior written consent under the FERPA exception for disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests.  A school official is:
   1. a person employed by Lake Washington Institute of Technology in an administrative, supervisory, academic or research, or support staff position (including law en­forcement unit personnel and health staff);
      
      
   2. a person or company with whom Lake Washington Institute of Technology has contracted as its agent to provide a service instead of using University employees or officials (such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent); a person serving on the Board of Trustees; or
      
      
   3. a student serving on an official committee, such as a 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 responsibilities for the University.
      
      Upon request, the University also discloses education records without consent to offi­cials of another school in which a student seeks or intends to enroll.
      
      
4. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the University to comply with the requirements of FERPA.  The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA is:

Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC  20202-5901