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FERPA Exceptions

​​​​​​​Student consent is not required to release student education records under certain circumstances as allowed by FERPA and outlined in DMACC procedure ​ Loading...​.​​​

One exception, which permits disclosure without consent, is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the College in an administrative, supervisory, academic or research, or support staff position (including security personnel and the campus nurse).

Individuals, entities or situations in which student consent may not be required for release of student educational records:

  • School officials who have access to student records in the course of performing their professional responsibilities
  • 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 Directors; members of an external accreditation committee;
  • an employee at a high school where a DMACC student is also currently enrolled
  • an employee of a state/federal approving agency (including, but not limited to Department of Homeland Security and Student and Exchange Visitor Information System [SEVIS]
  • a student serving on an official committee, such as the Petition for Policy Waiver Committee, College Review Board or College Judicial Heading Board, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks
  • Other schools to which a student is transferring
  • Appropriate parties in connection with financial aid to a student
  • Organizations conducting certain studies for or on behalf of the school
  • To comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued Subpoena
  • Appropriate officials and/or student's emergency contact in cases of health and safety emergencies

Educational records do not include:

  • records of instructional, administrative, and educational personnel which are the sole possession of the maker and are not accessible or revealed to any individual except a temporary substitute
  • records of the Security Office
  • student health records
  • employment records
  • alumni records