For information about your student education records at College of DuPage, contact the Records office in the

Student Resource Center
(SRC) Room 2015,
425 Fawell Blvd.,
Glen Ellyn, IL
60137-6599

Telephone:
(630) 942-3838

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Your Right to Know

The following provides prospective students, current students and community members with information, facts and figures about College of DuPage. Privacy, right-to-know, crime statistics, special services for disabled students, athletic participation and equity, and other institutional information can be found through the links below.

1. Student Right-to-Know: Enrollment, Graduation and Transfer Rates
2. Campus Crime Statistics
3. Gender Equity in Athletics Programs
4. Privacy of Student Education Records/FERPA
5. Services for Students with Disabilities/Special Student Services
6. Financial Aid
7. Withdrawal Policy
8. Refund Policy
9. Medical Withdrawal
10. Sexual Harassment
11. Non-Discrimination Policy

STUDENT RIGHT-TO-KNOW: ENROLLMENT, GRADUATION AND TRANSFER
The Federal government, under Student Right-to-Know (SRTK) legislation, requires that all colleges and universities report the proportion of students who began their studies full time and who complete programs within 150 percent of the normal time required for completion. For College of DuPage, a community college with two-year programs, that time period is three years for associate degrees and proportionately less for certificates

In general, College of DuPage students compare favorably with other community college students in statewide figures compiled by the Illinois Community College Board. For full-time students who entered C.O.D. in fall 2005 (the base year for statewide data), the percentage of C.O.D. students categorized as successful was higher than for the state as a whole (76 percent of C.O.D. students compared with 72 percent statewide). Successful students are defined as those who had completed or transferred, or who were still enrolled within three years after entering a community college. College of DuPage does not offer athletic scholarships and so does not keep separate SRTK statistics on athletes.

Three years is a relatively short time frame for community college students, many of whom are working full time or part time as well as going to school. Also, students may change enrollment status from full time to part time, may leave school temporarily for work or family reasons, may change their program of study, or may require developmental coursework upon admission. All of these factors tend to delay events like graduation or transfer. It is worth noting that our students demonstrate above average persistence toward their goals compared with other community college students in Illinois.

FAMILY EDUCATION RIGHTS AND PRIVACY ACT (FERPA)
What is FERPA?
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, sets forth requirements designed to protect the privacy of student education records. FERPA governs (1) release of education records and (2) access to education records.

Who is protected under FERPA?
Current or formerly enrolled students are protected under FERPA. Students who have applied but have not attended are not protected.

What are education records under FERPA?
Education records are defined as records that are:
Directly related to the student, and Maintained by the college or a party acting for College of DuPage.

Education records are not:
• Sole possession records (possessed by the maker only)
• Law enforcement records
• Employment records
• Medical records
• Post-attendance records.

What rights are given to students under FERPA?
• Right to inspect and review their education records
• Right to request to amend their education records
• Right to consent to disclosures of non-directory information, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent
• Right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by College of DuPage to comply with the requirements of FERPA.

What is non-directory information?
Information that would directly identify the student or make the student’s identity easily traceable is considered non-directory information. An example would be grades with a student’s name or social security number.

When can education records be disclosed?
The student must give written consent for the disclosure of non-directory information from education records. The consent must include
(a) description of the education records to be released,
(b) the purpose for the release, and
(c) the person to whom the records should be released.

To whom can non-directory information in education records be disclosed without a student’s consent?
• To the student
• To anyone with prior written consent of the student
• To anyone in response for directory information
• To college employees who have a legitimate educational interest
• To agents acting on behalf of the college (e.g. clearinghouses, degree/enrollment verifiers)
• To anyone who is providing financial aid to the student (not the parent)
• To organizations conducting studies for or on behalf of educational institutions
• To accrediting organizations
• To parents/legal guardians when their children (under age 21) are found to have violated the alcohol or drug policy of the college
• To comply with a judicial order or subpoena
• In a health and safety emergency
• To an alleged victim of a crime of violence of the results of the disciplinary hearing regarding the alleged perpetrator of that crime
• To anyone requesting the final results of a disciplinary hearing regarding a crime of violence or non-forcible sex offense
• To military recruiters who request "Student Recruiting Information"
• To federal, state, and local authorities involving an audit or evaluation of compliance with education programs
• To the Immigration and Naturalization Service for the purposes of the Coordinated Interagency Partnership Regulating International Students
• To the Internal Revenue Service to comply with the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997
• To parents of a dependent student as defined by IRS
• To the Department of Veterans Affairs for students receiving assistance

What is directory information?
Information contained in a student’s education record that is available to the public. At College of DuPage, directory information consists of the student’s name and community, major field of study, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of members of athletic teams, terms attended, enrollment status (e.g. full or part time), degrees and awards received, and the last educational institution attended by the student.

How can students limit disclosure of directory information?
Students can contact the office of the Director of Admissions, Registration and Records (SRC 2048B) and complete a Request to Prevent Disclosure of Directory Information form. However, doing so will make this important information unavailable to all, including prospective employers, honor societies and government and licensing agencies.

Download a PDF of the Request to Prevent Disclosure of Directory Information form.

How can students access their records?
Students have the right to access their records by providing a signed, written request to the College of DuPage Records office (Student Resource Center, Room 2015). Access will be granted within 45 days. Copies, with the exception of transcripts from other schools, may be obtained upon request. A fee may be assessed for copying the education records.

How can students request that their records be amended?
Students have the right to request that their records be amended if they believe the content is inaccurate, misleading, or in violation of their privacy rights. Students should write the college person responsible for the education record, clearly identify the part of the education record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. If the college decides not to amend the record as requested, students have a right to a formal hearing on the matter.

Note: The right to challenge a grade does not apply under FERPA unless the grade assigned was inaccurately recorded, under which condition the record will be corrected.
What does FERPA say about parents?
When a student reaches the age of 18 or begins attending college regardless of age, FERPA rights transfer to the student.

Parents may obtain directory information at the discretion of the institution.
Parents may obtain non-directory information (grades, GPA, etc.) only at the discretion of the institution and only after it has been determined that their child is legally their dependent. (In order to determine a student’s status as a dependent, the College must look to the most recent year that a parent filed a tax return. Parent must provide a copy of such document.)
Parents may also obtain non-directory information by obtaining a signed consent from their child.

Where can I get more information about FERPA?
Family Policy Compliance Office,
U.S. Department of Education,
400 Maryland Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20202-4605.
The web address is www.ed.gov/offices/OM/fpco

A copy of the College of DuPage Policy regarding the privacy of education records is available from the College of DuPage Records office.


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