FERPA Information

Generally, when a student enters college, regardless of their age, all rights afforded to parents under FERPA transfer to the student, and the student’s written consent is required for disclosure of his or her education records. This written consent is given to MCCC as a FERPA Release Form.

However, FERPA also provides ways in which schools may share information with parents without the student's consent. For example:

• MCCC may disclose education records to parents if a health or safety emergency involves their child.
• MCCC may inform parents if the student who is under age 21 has violated any law or its policy concerning the use or possession of alcohol or a controlled substance.

For further information on disclosure of student education records to parents, please email registrar@mccc.edu.

Mercer defines the following as directory information, and may be disclosed by the College for any purpose:
- Name
- Address
- Phone Number
- Email Address
- Enrollment Status (full-time or part-time)
- Dates/Semesters of attendan
- Major field of study
- Degrees and Awards received
- Previous Institution(s) attended
- Participation in officially recognized sports and activities
- Weight and Height of members of athletic teams

Currently enrolled students may withhold any category of information by providing a written notification to the Student Records office no later than three weeks after the start date of classes for the semester in which the withholding is to take effect.

The College assumes that failure on the part of any student to specifically request the withholding of categories of Directory Information indicates approval for disclosure.

Exemptions for disclosure include:

• School Officials with legitimate educational purposes. School official is defined as one of the following:
  • A person employed by the College in an Administrative, supervisory, academic, or support staff position
  • A person or company with whom the College has contracted (such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent)
  • A person serving on the Board of Trustees
  • A person assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks
• Legitimate interest is defined as a need to review an education record in order to fulfill the school official's professional responsibility.