Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act requires institutions of higher education to establish written policies and guidelines governing the review, inspection, release, amendment and maintenance of student educational records.

Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College has established policies and guidelines to ensure that the education records of its students are treated responsibly in accordance with the Act and U. S. Department of Education regulations. These policies and guidelines may be obtained from the Records Office.

Each student has the right to inspect personal educational records. Under limited circumstances, copies may be obtained from the College with payment of appropriate fees.

If a student believes personal education records contain inaccurate or misleading information or violate privacy or other rights, the student may submit a written appeal to the Registrar seeking to amend them.

Within 20 days after receipt of the appeal, the Registrar will issue a decision regarding the appeal. If the decision is to refuse to amend the student's educational records, the student may file a written request for a hearing. The student will be provided a full and fair opportunity to present evidence. A final written decision will be rendered based upon the evidence submitted at the hearing.

All transcripts and documents submitted from other institutions become the property of Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College, and, as such, come under the control of the Registrar’s Office. Southern is not required to provide copies of these documents. Transcripts submitted to Southern for review of transfer credit also become the property of Southern and cannot be returned to the student or forwarded to other institutions. Students may file complaints concerning alleged failures by the College to comply with the Act or regulations promulgated thereunder with the United States Department of Education (FERPA), Office of the Review Board, Washington, D. C. 20202.