Legal Notices

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act

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 the student’s education records within 45 days after the day Lamar Community College receives a request for access.  A student should submit to the registrar, dean, head of the academic department, or other appropriate official, a written request that identifies the record(s) the student wishes to inspect.  The school official will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected.  If the records are not maintained by the school official to whom the request was submitted, that official shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed.

2.     The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the student believes is inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy rights under FERPA.

A student who wishes to ask the school to amend a record should write the school official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record the student wants changed, and specify why it should be changed.

If the school decides not to amend the record as requested, the school will notify the student in writing of the decision and the student’s 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.

3.     The right to provide written consent before the college discloses personally identifiable information (PII) from the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. 

The school discloses education records without a student’s prior written consent under the FERPA exception for disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests.  A school official is a person employed by Lamar Community College in an administrative, supervisory, academic, research, or support staff position (including law enforcement unit personnel and health staff); a person serving on the board of trustees; or a student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee.  A school official also may include a volunteer or contractor outside of Lamar Community College who performs an institutional service of function for which the school would otherwise use its own employees and who is under the direct control of the school with respect to the use and maintenance of PII from education records, such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent or a student volunteering to assist another school official in performing his or her tasks.  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 responsibilities for Lamar Community College.

Upon request, the school also discloses education records without consent to officials of another school in which a student seeks or intends to enroll. [NOTE TO POSTSECONDARY INSTITUTION:  FERPA requires a school to make a reasonable attempt to notify each student of these disclosures unless the school states in its annual notification that it intends to forward records on request.]

4.      The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by Lamar Community 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

Selected Definitions Include

1. Student—Any individual who is or has been in attendance at an institution and about whom the institution maintains education records. Eligible students are those who are 18 years of age or older. This definition does not include applicants to an institution.
2. Parent—Parent of a student, including natural parent, guardian, or an individual acting as a parent in the absence of a parent or guardian.
3. Attendance—Attendance in person or by correspondence. This definition also includes that period of time during which a student might be working under a work-study program. Note that it is not enough to be enrolled, the student must be physically present at the institution except in cases involving correspondence courses.
4. Disclosure—to permit access to education records or the personally identifiable information in the records by any means, including oral, written, or electronic means.
5. Personally identifiable information—student’s name, parent and family member names, address of student and parent or family members, a personal identifier such as social security number or student number, a list of personal characteristics or other information which would make the student’s identity easily traceable.
6. Directory information—information contained in education records which would not generally be considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if released. Lamar Community College designates student name, participation in recognized activities and sports, dates of attendance, degrees and awards received, most recent previous educational institution attended, and photo, height and/or weight of athletes as being directory information.
7. Education records—those records that are directly related to a student and that are maintained by an educational institution. Education records do not include:
   1. Records of instructional, supervisory, and administrative personnel that are kept in the sole possession of the maker of the record and are not revealed to anyone except a substitute. Example: grade books and faculty instructional materials.
   2. Records of a law enforcement unit of an educational institution if the records are maintained separately from education records, maintained solely for enforcement purposes, and disclosed only to law enforcement officials of the same jurisdiction.
   3. Records relating to an individual who is employed by an educational institution that are maintained in the normal course of business, related solely to the individual as an employee, and are not available for any other purpose. Exception: records of an individual who is employed by the educational institution as a result of his or her status as a student are educational records and are not exempted from coverage under this section. Examples include employment records of graduate assistants and work-study students.
   4. Records that contain information about an individual after he or she is no longer a student at the institution.
   5. Records of a student that are made or maintained by a physician, psychologist, psychiatrist, or other recognized professional or paraprofessional acting in such capacity which are made or used only in connection with treatment of the student and are disclosed only to persons providing the treatment. Treatment does not include remedial educational activities.

An eligible student has the right to refuse to let the agency or institution designate any or all of those types of information about the student as directory information by submitting a written statement that he or she does not want any or all of those types of information about the student designated as directory information.
 

Gainful Employment Disclosure Information

Beginning July 1, 2011, the US Department of Education requires each college to disclose a variety of information for any financial aid eligible program that “prepares students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation.”  With two years of data collected, LCC has provided current and prospective students with the best information available.  Gainful Employment disclosure information includes applicable occupations, completion & placement rates, tuition & fees, and loan debt for LCC’s certificate programs, see www.lamarcc.edu/gainful. This data may be helpful to students as they make career and educational choices.  

For additional information regarding the data provided and what it means to students, please feel free to contact Teale Hemphill, Director of Financial Aide at 719.336.1591.  .

Notice of Nondiscrimination

Lamar Community College does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age or handicap in admission or access to, or treatment or employment in, its educational programs or activities. Inquiries concerning Title VI, Title IX, Section 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 may be referred to:

Equity Officer
2401 South Main, Lamar, CO 81052
719-336-1572

or

Director of Affirmative Action
for the Colorado Community College System
9101 E. Lowry Boulevard, Denver, CO 80230
303.620.4000

or

Office for Civil Rights
U.S. Department of Education
1961 Stout Street, Denver, CO 80294

All LCC customers have access to services, programs, and activities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Special needs may be directed to Lamar Community College’s Special Populations Coordinator, 2401 South Main, Lamar, CO 81052, 719.336.1525.
 

Prohibition Against Enrollment in State Supported Institutions of Higher Education of Persons Convicted of Rioting Offenses.

Under Colorado law, no person shall be enrolled in a state-supported institution of higher education for a period of twelve months following the date of a guilty verdict, guilty plea, no contest plea, or a deferred judgment and sentence for inciting riot, arming rioters, or engaging in a riot.

Clery Act

In compliance with the Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act of 1990, also known as the Clery Act, the Lamar Community College provides information on its Annual Security Report (ASR) is published each year in order to provide accurate information to potential and current students and employees about campus crime statistics, campus crime logs, as well as policies regarding the safety and security of the campus community.

Sex Offender Notice

Information concerning persons who are required by Colorado law to register as sex offenders, including registered sex offenders who are enrolled, employed, or volunteering at the College may be obtained from the Lamar Police Department, 505 South Main Street, 719.336.4341 or the Prowers County Sheriff’s Department, 103 East Oak, 719.336.8050.