What does FERPA mean for parents?
- When a student attends college (at any age), FERPA rights belong to the student. This means MPTC can’t share educational records with a parent unless:
- The student provides permission by completing the Student Authorization for Release Form, OR
- If the student is a dependent under IRS rules, MPTC may disclose personally identifiable information from the student’s educational records for tax purposes.
- However, when a student is still in high school and under 18, parents retain the right under FERPA to review the student’s high school educational records (which could include information that MPTC shared with the high school).
- Individuals applying for admission to MPTC should check their application status by logging into the Admission Portal. To remain consistent with privacy laws, MPTC will not disclose this information to anyone other than the person applying.
Procedure PR 728.06: Release of Student Information
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), as amended, is a federal law (20 U.S.C. 1232g) that protects the privacy of a student's educational record.
FERPA applies to the release of student education records and affords students certain rights regarding those records. The law also requires institutions to advise students of their rights concerning education records and of certain categories of public information that the College has designated as ‘directory information.’
Process
The College will withhold all student record services to students who have outstanding financial obligations. Services to be withheld include: issuance of an official and unofficial transcript, certification of enrollment, verification of degrees, release of educational records, copying of educational records and registration for future terms/semesters. Services will be withheld until all encumbrances are satisfied.
However, students may review and inspect their educational record at any time
Release of Information
Records are not released to parents of students without consent of the student. Restricted or referable and directory information (even if student has withheld information) may be released without student consent to the following:
- Moraine Park Technical College employees on a need-to-know basis and have a legitimate educational interest
- Higher Education Aids Board or agencies providing financial aid
- Agencies providing or considering providing financial assistance to the student, such as the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and the Veterans Administration, if information is necessary to determine eligibility for, determine amount of, or condition for aid or to enforce terms and conditions of aid
- The State Board of WTCS as part of the process of securing state funds
- Courts or legal officers on the basis of a subpoena
- Properly authorized educational authorities for the purpose of research, provided that the information is not given in personally identifiable format
- Information received from the state on registered sex offenders as per Megan’s Law
- Agencies where collection of a debt owed to Moraine Park Technical College is involved
- State and local officials to whom disclosure is required by state statute adopted prior to November 19, 1974
- Accrediting organizations carrying out their accrediting functions
- Persons in an emergency, if the knowledge of information in fact is necessary to protect the health and safety of the student or other persons
- To officials of another school where the student seeks to enroll
- The Comptroller General or Secretary of Education of the United States
Student Authorization for Release of Education Records Information
In compliance with the federal Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, Moraine Park is restricted from disclosing certain information from the student’s records. Students may grant MPTC permission to release information from their student records to a third party by completing and signing the Student Authorization for Release Form.
Student Authorization for Release of Education Records Information form requires the student to complete the following information:
- Student information
- To whom to release confidential information
- Purpose of the release
- What education records to be released to third party
- How long request is valid for
The Student Authorization for Release of Education Records Information form must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office. The Registrar’s Office will comply with the request and attach the authorization request to the student record as part of the student’s education record.
Release and Requests of Student Lists
Student lists and directories, including lists with addresses and telephone numbers are not published. Lists of students’ names and addresses are released to outside agencies under the provisions of the Wisconsin Public Records Law (Wis. Stats. Section 19.31-19.39, as amended) following FERPA guidelines in regard to directory information as deemed by the college.
Request for student lists from outside agencies under Wisconsin Public Records Law must be submitted in writing and submitted to the Registrar’s Office for review. The Registrar, as legal custodian of student records will respond to the requestor by completing the request for student list or deny with reasons for denial of the request.
Requesting a Copy of Student Record
Students may request a copy of their educational records for themselves or authorize their release by a written request and/or wavier to release such records. An administrative and/or copying fee is assessed for student records (see Public Records Procedure PR 102.01).
Students must submit a written request to the Registrar’s Office for a obtaining a copy of the student’s education record.