2020–2021 CATALOG AND STUDENT HANDBOOK ACADEMIC INFORMATION AND UNIVERSITY POLICIES Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) 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 the institution receives a request for access. Students should submit to the registrar, business office, or other appropriate official, written requests that identify the record(s) they wish to inspect. The institution will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. 2. The right to request the amendment of the student’s educational records that the student believes are inaccurate or misleading. Students may ask the institution to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading. They should write the Campus Director, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. If the institution decides not to amend the record as requested by the student, the institution will notify the student of the decision and advise the student of his or her 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 consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. One exception which permits disclosure without consent is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the institution in an administrative, supervisory, academic or research, or support staff position (including law enforcement unit personnel and health staff); a person or company with whom the institution has contracted (such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent); or 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 responsibility. 4. The right to disclose — without the written consent or knowledge of the student or parent — personally identifiable information from the student’s education records to the Attorney General of the United States or to his/her designee in response to an ex parte order in connection with the investigation or prosecution of terrorism crimes specified in sections 2332b(g)(5)(B) and 2331 of title 18, U.S. Code. In addition, the institution is not required to record the disclosure of such information in the student’s file. Further, if the institution has provided this information in good faith in compliance with an ex parte order issued under the amendment, it is not liable to any person for the disclosure of this information. 5. The right to disclose — without the written consent or knowledge of the student or parent — information from a student’s education records in order to comply with a “lawfully issued subpoena or court order” in three contexts. a. Grand Jury Subpoenas — The institution may disclose education records to the entity or persons designated in a Federal Grand Jury Subpoena. In addition, the court may order the institution not to disclose to anyone the existence or context of the subpoena or the institution’s response. b. Law Enforcement Subpoenas — The institution may disclose education records to the entity or persons designated in any other subpoena issued for a law enforcement purpose. As with Federal Grand Jury Subpoenas, the issuing court or agency may, for good cause shown, order the institution not to disclose to anyone the existence or contents of the subpoena or the institution’s response. Notification requirements nor recordation requirements apply. c. All Other Subpoenas — The institution may disclose information pursuant to any other court order or lawfully issued subpoena only if the school makes a reasonable effort to notify the parent or eligible student of the order or subpoena in advance of compliance, so that the parent of student may seek protective action. The institution will record all requests for information from a standard court order or subpoena. 6. The Right to Disclose — without the written consent or knowledge of the student or parent — information in education records to “appropriate parties in connection with an emergency, if knowledge of the information is necessary to protect the health and safety of the student or other individuals.” Imminent danger of student or others must be present. 7. 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. Students have the right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by ALL CONTENT IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE BY ADDENDUM the institution 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, 20202-4605. A. Educational Records Definition A student’s education records are defined as files, materials, or documents that contain information directly related to the student and are maintained by the institution. Access to a student’s education records is afforded to school officials who have a legitimate educational interest in the records, such as for purposes of recording grades, attendance, advising, and determining financial aid eligibility. B. Directory Information Directory Information is that information which may be unconditionally released without the consent of the student unless the student has specifically requested that the information not be released. The school requires that such requests be made in writing to the Campus Director within fifteen (15) days after the student starts classes. Directory Information includes the student’s: • Name; • Date of birth; • Address(es); • Rasmussen University issued student email address; • Personal email address; • Course of study; • Co-curricular and Extracurricular activities; • Degrees and/or awards received; • Last school attended; • Dean’s list or equivalent; • Attendance status (full time, part time); and • Dates of attendance (the period of time a student attends or attended Rasmussen University not to include specific daily records of attendance). Students may restrict the release of Directory Information except to school officials with legitimate educational interests and others as outlined above. To do so, a student must make the request in writing to the Business Office. Once filed this becomes a permanent part of the student’s record until the student instructs the institution, in writing, to have the request removed. Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act Rasmussen University provides prospective and enrolled students and employees with its current Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act statistics. This policy contains information pertaining to the reporting procedure of criminal activities, security and access to campus facilities, campus law enforcement and criminal offenses reported to the campus or local police. As part of our campus crime prevention plan, Rasmussen University provides training in the prevention of crime, sexual harassment/violence, and alcohol/drug abuse. Library and Learning Resources Policy Rasmussen University Library team, in accordance with the mission of the University, is rooted in a tradition of student support and driven by a desire for academic excellence. They are passionate about empowering the university community and cultivating lifelong learners who are prepared to thrive in a diverse and digital society. In support of this mission we: • Extend our resources and services to all students and employees of the University; • Empower students to access information independently in the changing world of technology; • Support faculty by providing professional development and instructional partnerships; • Engage in responsive collection development by collaborating with faculty to select resources; and • Provide direction and recommendations to help guide our users to the resources and online tools that will work best for their learning. This circulation policy supports the library mission by ensuring that library materials are available to members of the Rasmussen University community and other library users on an equitable basis. Exceptions to this policy may be granted by the Dean and/or Associate Dean of Library on a case-by-case basis if need is demonstrated. A. Borrowing Materials: General The following persons are permitted to check out materials owned by our library system: • Rasmussen University students and alumni in good financial standing with the University • Rasmussen University faculty and staff in good standing with the library • Consortia patrons in good standing with the library 169 A SA m P U e n d i e at r d Oot c t o b e r 2 Ac t 0 0 1 t o i n c l u d e t h e
