Confidentiality of Student Records
The College of Saint Rose wishes to encourage trust and confidence among students, faculty, staff, and administration and, in particular, to affirm the right of privacy of each member of the College community.
Only those within the College who have a legitimate educational interest may have access to student records. Persons outside the College do not have access to the records of individuals unless the student gives permission for the release of specific records or unless the knowledge of such information is necessary to protect the health or safety of other persons.
Such “directory information” as name, address, email address, dates of attendance, enrollment status, photographic image, major field of study, participation in officially recognized activities, degrees and awards received, and the most recent educational institution attended by the student will be released by the College when such release is appropriate unless a student specifically requests that this information not be released.
In accordance with this policy, present and former students at The College of Saint Rose have access to their own records at the following locations:
- Records of academic progress – Registrar’s Office
- Health records – Health Services
- Placement records (the provisions of law protect the confidentiality of letters of recommendation filed prior to January 1, 1975, as well as letters for which students have formally waived their rights to access) – Office of Career Services
- Financial Aid information (excluding the Parent’s Confidential Statement if the parents specify that the student may not have access to the statement) – Financial Aid Office
- Records of charges and payments – Business Office
- Alumni records – Alumni Office
- Higher Education Opportunity Program testing records – HEOP Office
- College progress reports for sponsoring agencies – Office of Academic Services
The complete Notice of Student Rights with Respect to Education Records is available in the Registrar and Student Affairs offices, as well as on the College’s website.
If students wish to challenge any part of their record, they may do so informally by contacting the Vice President for Student Affairs. A formal hearing process is available as set forth in the Annual Notice to cover instances when the informal procedures are not satisfactory. The hearing will be conducted by a College official that does not have an interest in the outcome.
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) generally prohibits the disclosure of information about students and the inspection of student records without their permission to do so. “Directory information,” as defined by the institution, may be disclosed as long as notification to do so has been made available to students, and students are given the opportunity to request nondisclosure.
School Deans, department chairs, and advisors often do have a “legitimate educational interest” in the examination of student records, which authorizes sharing of such information among faculty and staff when the information is reasonably necessary in order to fulfill the faculty member’s professional or assigned responsibilities.