Records & Privacy Policy

Students’ Right to Privacy

Greensboro College is subject to the provisions of federal law known as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (also referred to as the Buckley Amendment or FERPA). This act affords students certain rights with respect to their educational records. The law can be found at http: //www.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/ferpa/index.html.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords eligible students certain rights with respect to their education records. (An “eligible student” under FERPA is a student who is 18 years of age or older or who attends a postsecondary institution.)

These rights include:

  1. The right to inspect and review your education records within 45 days after the day the Greensboro College registrar’s office receives a request for access. Your request must be a written request that identifies the record(s) the student wishes to inspect. The registrar will make arrangements for access and notify you of the time and place where the records may be inspected. If the records requested are not maintained by the registrar’s office, the registrar will notify you of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed.
  2. You have the right to request the amendment of your education records that you believe is inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of your privacy rights under FERPA.
    • If you wish to ask Greensboro College to amend a record, put this request in writing to the registrar or to the official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record you want changed, and specify why it should be changed.
    • If the college decides not to amend the record as requested, we will notify you in writing of the decision and your rights to a hearing re­garding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided when you are notified of the right to a hearing.
  3. The right to provide written consent before the college discloses personally identifiable information (PII) from your education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.
    • The college discloses education records without a student’s prior written consents under the FERPA exception for disclosures where appropriate. Listed below are instances in which this disclosure may occur:
      • To college officials, including administrators and instructors, within the college who have been determined to have legitimate educational interests or need to know. This includes contractors, consultants, volunteers, or other parties to whom the college has outsourced institutional services or functions, provided that the conditions listed in §99.31(a)(1)(i)(B)(1) – (a)(1)(i)(B)(2) are met. (§99.31(a)(1))
      • To officials of another college or university where the student seeks or intends to enroll, or where the student is already enrolled if the disclosure is for purposes related to the student’s enrollment or transfer, subject to the requirements of §99.34. (§99.31(a)(2))
      • To authorized representatives of the U. S. Comptroller General, the U. S. Attorney General, the U.S. Secretary of Education, or State and local educational authorities, such as a State postsecondary authority that is responsible for supervising the university’s State-supported education programs. Disclosures under this provision may be made, subject to the requirements of §99.35, in connection with an audit or evaluation of Federal- or State-supported education programs, or for the enforcement of or compliance with Federal legal requirements that relate to those programs. These entities may make further disclosures of PII to outside entities that are designated by them as their authorized representatives to conduct any audit, evaluation, or enforcement or compliance activity on their behalf. (§§99.31(a)(3) and 99.35)
      • In connection with financial aid for which the student has applied or which the student has received, if the information is necessary to determine eligibility for the aid, determine the amount of the aid, determine the conditions of the aid, or enforce the terms and conditions of the aid. (§99.31(a)(4))
      • To organizations conducting studies for, or on behalf of, the school, in order to: (a) develop, validate, or administer predictive tests; (b) administer student aid programs; or (c) improve instruction. (§99.31(a)(6))
      • To accrediting organizations to carry out their accrediting functions. ((§99.31(a)(7)
      • To parents of an eligible student if the student is a dependent for IRS tax purposes. (§99.31(a)(8))
      • To comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena. (§99.31(a)(9))
      • To appropriate officials in connection with a health or safety emergency, subject to §99.36. (§99.31(a)(10))
      • Information the school has designated as “directory information” under §99.37. (§99.31(a)(11))
      • To a victim of an alleged perpetrator of a crime of violence or a non-forcible sex offense, subject to the requirements of §99.39. The disclosure may only include the final results of the disciplinary proceeding with respect to that alleged crime or offense, regardless of the finding. (§99.31(a)(13))
      • To the general public, the final results of a disciplinary proceeding, subject to the requirements of §99.39, if the school determines the student is an alleged perpetrator of a crime of violence or non-forcible sex offense and the student has committed a violation of the school’s rules or policies with respect to the allegation made against him or her. (§99.31(a)(14))
      • To parents of a student regarding the student’s violation of any Federal, State, or local law, or of any rule or policy of the school, governing the use or possession of alcohol or a controlled substance if the school determines the student committed a disciplinary violation and the student is under the age of 21. (§99.31(a)(15))

Students have the right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by Greensboro College to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA is:

Family Policy Compliance Office

U.S. Department of Education

400 Maryland Avenue, SW

Washington, DC 20202


Greensboro College Directory Information Notice

Although the release of public directory information is permissible under FERPA, Greensboro College opts to withhold this disclosure to the public. Information released is as follows: student names, hometown, majors, class (e.g., sophomore or “Class of 2017”), degrees being sought, honors earned, and participation in campus events. For athletes, height/weight may also be released.

Greensboro College students have a right to designate their information as private and to require Greensboro College not to make such releases. Students may make this request, in writing, through the registrar’s office.

If you have questions or concerns regarding this matter, please direct them to registrar@greensboro.edu.

We wish you the best of luck in your academic endeavors at Greensboro College. Feel free to stop by our office, Main Building Room 205, or call us at, (336) 272-7102 ext. 5201, and we may assist you. 

Greensboro College is a Yellow Ribbon school and is also designated as a Military Friendly School.

Joshua Fitzgerald photo

“I loved the GC Honors program and Greensboro College. I felt safe and a sense of genuine belonging at the college. I worked closely with my thesis advisor and professors who helped inspire me to define my path and passion of interest. That path has led me to my doctoral studies in Engineering Mechanics.”

- Joshua Fitzgerald, Class of ’19, Mathematics Major

Joshua currently studies astrodynamics at Virginia Tech University and is an Engineering Mechanics Ph.D. Candidate.