Privacy of Records

In accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), California Intercontinental University protects the privacy of students’ records, including social security number, home address, e-mail address, phone number, grades, and financial information. FERPA affords students certain rights with respect to their educational records: 

• 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 written requests that identify the record(s) they wish 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 University official to whom the request was submitted, that official shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed. 
• The right to request an amendment of the student’s education records that the student believes is inaccurate or misleading. Students may ask the University to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading. They should write the University official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record they want to be 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/her/their 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 California Intercontinental 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 CIU has contracted (such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent), a person serving on the Board of Trustees, or a student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his/her/their tasks. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official acts in any of the following capacities: is performing a task that is specified in his/her/their position description or contract agreement, related to a student’s education or to the discipline of a student: providing a service or benefit relating to the student or the student’s family (e.g., counseling, job placement, financial aid, etc.), or maintaining the safety and security of the campus. Upon request, the University may disclose education records without a student’s consent to officials of another school in which that student seeks or intends to enroll. 

• The release of student “directory” information is also permitted by FERPA. The University identifies “directory” information as a student’s name, address, telephone listing, electronic mail address, photograph, date and place of birth, major field of study, dates of attendance, grade level, degrees, honors, and awards received, the most recent educational agency or institution attended, student ID number, user ID, or other unique personal identifier used to communicate in electronic systems that cannot be used to access education records without a PIN, password, etc. (A student’s SSN, in whole or in part, cannot be used for this purpose)
• The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the University to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the office that  administers FERPA are: Family Policy Compliance Office U.S. Department of Education 400 Maryland Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20202-4605 

For any requests, amendments, or updates, please contact the Director of Academic Administration and Registrar at gina.borelli@caluniversity.edu or +1 (949) 359-0045.