Confidentiality Of Student Records

The college maintains an educational record and student service record for each student who is or has been enrolled at the college. Per the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, as amended (hereafter "Act"), the following student rights are covered by the Act and afforded to all eligible students at the college:

1. The right to inspect and review the information contained in the student's records.
2. The right to request amendment of the contents of the student's records believed to be inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student's privacy or rights.
3. The right to prevent disclosure without consent, with certain exceptions, of personally identifiable information from the student's records.
4. The right to secure a copy of the college's policy.
5. The right to file complaints with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the college to comply with the provisions of the Act.

Each of these rights, with any limitations or exceptions, is explained in the college's policy statement. A copy may be obtained in the Records Office.

Educational agencies – colleges – may disclose educational records to the parents of a dependent student without the student's consent. Post-secondary institutions may disclose, to parents and legal guardians of students under the age of 21, information regarding the student's violation of any federal, state, or local law or any rule or policy of the institution governing the use or possession of alcohol or a controlled substance (amended 6/99).
The college is obligated to keep, within the student educational records, a "record of access" for all people and organizations that have been granted access to the student's records. This access record is available only to authorized people within and outside the institution.

The institution shall disclose, to an alleged victim of a crime of violence or a non-forcible sex offense, the final results of disciplinary proceedings conducted by the institution. The institution may disclose the results of a disciplinary hearing for such violations of the college's rules. Disclosure is limited to the violator's name, the violation committed, and sanctions imposed. Names of other students and/or witnesses can only be released by written permission.

Disciplinary records may be released to other schools and school officials when those records contain information regarding conduct that poses a possible significant risk to the safety of any student or members of that school community.

Northeastern may provide directory information under the Act's provisions without an eligible student's consent unless the student initiates a written request to prevent disclosure of such information. The following information is designated as directory information and may be released concerning any student for any purpose at the discretion of the college (unless a written request for nondisclosure is on file):

• Student name
• Major field of study
• Participation in officially recognized activities and sports and dates of attendance
• Degrees and awards received
• Most recent educational institution attended
• Enrollment status (i.e., full-time, three-quarter-time, half-time, less than half-time, withdrawn, graduated, or deceased)
• Height, weight, and high school attended (only for students in officially recognized activities and sports)

Currently, enrolled students may prohibit public disclosure of this directory information by notifying the Records Office in writing, specifying the categories to be withheld, within ten (10) calendar days after each term's first scheduled class day.

The college will honor the request until the student otherwise contacts the Records Office and provides written permission to release directory information. The student should carefully consider the consequences of any decision to withhold any category of directory information. Regardless of the effect upon the student, Northeastern assumes no liability that may arise out of its compliance with a request that such information is withheld. It is assumed that the failure on the part of the student to request the withholding of directory information indicates the student's consent to disclose.

Please refer any questions concerning the student's rights and responsibilities under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act to the Vice President of Student Services.