College of the Desert student education records are maintained in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974 and the California Education Code, Sections 76200 et seq and Title 5, Sections 54600, et seq., U.S. Patriot Act; Civil Code 1798.85. Written student consent is required for access and release of information defined as educational records in federal and state law as described in College of the Desert Board Policy 5040. Get more information about the federal regulation online.
Students may complete the FERPA Release Form to give permission for others to view and access their student records. The completed form must be submitted one of the following three ways:
Any student may file a written request with the appropriate dean to correct or remove information recorded in his or her student records that the student alleges to be:
Within 30 days of receipt of the request, the Superintendent/President or designee shall meet with the student and the employee who recorded the information in question, if any, if the employee is presently employed by the District. Should the employee no longer be employed, the appropriate dean will meet with the student. The Superintendent/President or designee shall then sustain or deny the allegations.
If the Superintendent/President or designee sustains any or all of the allegations, he or she shall order the correction or removal and destruction of the information.
If the Superintendent/President or designee denies any or all of the allegations and refuses to order the correction or removal of the information, the student, within 30 days of the refusal, may appeal the decision in writing to the Board of Trustees. Within 30 days of receipt of an appeal, the Board of Trustees shall, in closed session with the student and the employee who recorded the information in question, if any, and if that employee is presently employed by the District, determine whether to sustain or deny the allegations. If the Board of Trustees sustains any or all of the allegations, it shall order the Superintendent/President or designee, to immediately correct or remove and destroy the information. The decision of the Board of Trustees shall be final.
If the final decision is unfavorable to the student, the student shall have the right to submit a written statement of his or her objections to the information. This statement shall become a part of the student’s record until the information objected to is corrected or removed.
The District may permit access to student records to any person for whom the student has executed written consent specifying the records to be released and identifying the party or class of parties to whom the records may be released. The District may not permit access to student records to any person without the written consent of the student or under judicial order except:
School officials have a legitimate educational interest if they are:
All currently enrolled or former students have a right to inspect and review all student records relating to them. Student record is defined according to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). To access any student documentation, students must file a letter of request with the Admissions and Records Office. Access shall be granted no later than 15 school days following the date the written request is received. Within the same 15 school days, the student will be notified of the location of all official student records if not centrally located and qualified personnel will be made available to interpret records where appropriate. At that time the student must present appropriate identification verifying their identity.
The Desert Community College District (DCCD) does not release student record information without the written consent of the student, except as outlined on page 55 under Disclosure of Education Records. Although the DCCD adheres to this policy, the law allows the College to release student directory information, except when students have specifically requested that directory information be kept confidential. Directory information may be released by exception upon determination of the Vice President or designee, that such release is appropriate and not likely to put students at risk. DCCD directory information shall include:
(Education Code, section 76200, et seq.; Title 5, section 54600, et seq.)