Record Keeping
All student disciplinary records are confidential and subject to the privacy protection
granted by the Family
Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). FERPA gives certain rights to parents regarding these records.
These rights are transferred to students who are enrolled in postsecondary education.
Generally, the
University must have written permission from the eligible student before releasing
any information from their
conduct records.
However, FERPA allows schools to disclose records, without consent, to certain individuals
or
organizations, including but not limited to the following:
• University officials within the institution determined by the institution to have
a legitimate educational
interest in the information (e.g., it is necessary for that official to a) perform
their job; b) perform a task
related to the student’s education; c) perform a task related to the discipline of
the student; d) provide
a service or benefit relating to a student or the student’s family, such as health
care, counseling, job
placement or financial aid).
• Certain government officials in order to carry out lawful functions.
• Individuals who have obtained court orders or subpoenas, though the student must
be given notice
before such records are released.
• Accrediting organizations.
• Circumstances listed in Victim’s Rights.
The complete written policy and procedures for compliance with FERPA are available
from the SCA. Student
disciplinary records will be kept on file in the Office of the Dean of Students and
the SCA. When necessary,
notices of decisions and sanctions will also be sent to University Police and the
Director of Housing.
Files will be kept for ten (10) years from the student’s last violation of the Code
of Student Conduct. These
records will then be shredded unless otherwise required by law or University policy.
In cases involving
suspension or expulsion or in which all sanctions have not been satisfactorily completed,
files will be kept
permanently.