FERPA Quillen College of Medicine

ETSU complies fully with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974, as amended. FERPA affords students certain rights with respect to their education records.

Student Rights

The right to inspect and review the student's education records within 45 days of the day the university receives a request for access.
- Students should submit to the registrar, dean, head of the academic department, or other appropriate official, written requests that identify the record(s) they wish to inspect. The university official will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. If the university official to whom the request was submitted does not maintain the records, that official shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed.
The right to request the amendment of the student's education records that the student believes are inaccurate or misleading.
- Students may ask the university to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading. They should write to the university official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. If the university decides not to amend the record as requested by the student, the university will notify the student of the decision and advise the student of his or her right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the student when notified of the right to a hearing.
The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student's education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.
- 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 university in an administrative, supervisory, academic, research, or support staff position (including law enforcement unit personnel and health staff); a person or company with whom the university has contracted (such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent); or a student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her task. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility.
- Upon request, the university discloses education records without consent to officials of another school in which a student seeks or intends to enroll.The right to inspect and review the student's education records within 45 days of the day the university receives a request for access.
- Personally identifiable information may also be released without the prior written consent of the student under one or more of the following conditions: Upon request the university will disclose the final results of any disciplinary proceeding conducted by the university against a student who is an alleged perpetrator of any crime of violence (as that term is defined in section 16 of Title 18, United States Code) or a non-forcible sex offense, if the university determines as a result of disciplinary proceeding that the student committed a violation of the institution's rules or policies with respect to such crime or offense. The information shall include only the name of the student, the violations committed, and any sanction imposed by the university on the student. The university may include the name of any other student such as a victim or witness, only with the written consent of that student. The university will notify victims of sexual assault of the outcome of any disciplinary proceeding against the alleged perpetrator. The university will notify the alleged victim of any crime of violence or non-forcible sex offense (or if the victim is deceased, as a result of such crime or offense, to the next of kin) of the final results of any institutional disciplinary proceeding conducted against the alleged student perpetrator.

The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by East Tennessee State University to comply with the requirements of FERPA.

FERPA Administration

Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202-4605

Directory Information

The Quillen College of Medicine defines directory information as student names, addresses (e-mail, mailing, and campus box), major, and phone number. In addition, ETSU may release other directory information, defined as enrollment status, dates of attendance, classification, previous institution(s) attended, awards, honors, photographs, degrees conferred (including dates), hometown and residency placement information, and sports participation information. These items may be released to others on request without the express permission of the student. If students prefer not to have these items released, they may fill out a form to prevent disclosure of this data. This form is available through the COM Registrar's Office and must be submitted no later than August 31. Such a request will in remain in effect until the beginning of the next academic year or until withdrawn by the student. A new form for nondisclosure must be completed each academic year. A form submitted the last term a student enrolls would remain in effect until the student re-enrolls.