Miscellaneous Information about the Academic Program

CALENDAR AND STUDENT LOAD

Bethel operates on an early semester calendar with two 15-week semesters and a three-week interim in January.

Student load for fall and spring semesters is 12 to 18 credits for full-time students and fewer than 12 credits for part-time students. Student load for interim is a maximum of five credits. To enroll for more than 18 credits, a student must have a grade point average of at least 3.25 in each of the two preceding semesters, show in a petition the reason(s) for the overload, and receive the approval of the advisor and the registrar. No overloads are permitted during interim.

A minimum of 122 credits is required for graduation. Three interim sessions (with at least three credits in interim) are required.

INTERIM

Interim courses sometimes differ from those taught in the fall and spring semesters. Some are offered at on-site locations away from the campus. An interim catalog is issued annually with complete course descriptions. In addition, a student exchange program with other colleges and universities, the Upper Midwest Association for Intercultural Education (UMAIE), international study courses, and courses at the Au Sable Institute for Environmental Studies are available during January interim sessions.

SUMMER SCHOOL

Bethel conducts a summer school in late May and early June. A summer school bulletin is issued by the Office of Academic Affairs each spring.

CLASS ATTENDANCE

Students are accountable for all required work in each of their courses. They must assume full responsibility for class attendance in a way satisfactory to the instructor and for work missed because of absence. Since class sessions function not merely for individual learning but also for group interaction, absences can become a serious problem both for the individual and for the group.

PREREQUISITES

Course prerequisites are listed with each course description. In some instances the prerequisite may be waived by consent of the instructor.

CHANGES IN REGISTRATION

A new course may not be added after the sixth day of classes (excluding weekends) without consent of the registrar. See regulations for dropping a course after the first week of classes under “Grading System” below.

GRADING SYSTEM

Course work is evaluated on the following scale:

Grade

Definition

Grade
Points

Grade

Definition

Grade
Points

Exceptional

4.0

Minimally Acceptable

1.0

A-

3.7

Failing

0.0

B+

3.3

Withdrawal

Good

3.0

Incomplete

B-

2.7

Satisfactory

C+

2.3

Unsatisfactory

Satisfactory

2.0

Audit

C-

1.7

Not Reported

D+

1.3

In Process

An instructor has the option of affixing a minus to the grade of A, a plus or a minus to the grades B and C, and a plus to the grade of D. A plus increases the number of grade points awarded by 0.3, and a minus decreases the number of grade points awarded by 0.3.

The grade point average (GPA) is determined by dividing the number of grade points by the number of credits the student has attempted. Courses with the following grades are not included in the GPA calculation: W, I, S, U, X, NR, IP. Any course may be repeated, in which case only the last attempt is used in computing the GPA.

The GPA is calculated only on the basis of credits attempted at Bethel. In order to receive a degree, a student shall have earned at least a 2.00 overall GPA and the required GPA in the major. Most departments require a 2.25 GPA in the major, but some departments require a higher GPA in the major. See requirements for the majors in this catalog.

The grade X is given when a student audits the course. Students wishing to audit a course must secure the consent of the instructor for such enrollment status. A student may change to or from audit status with the instructor’s approval only during the first five weeks of the semester. Auditing at Bethel is defined as observation in the classroom setting. Auditors are required to meet the attendance requirements set by the instructor. Students and those who do not meet the attendance requirements will be graded W. Participation beyond attendance in class activities is at the instructor’s discretion.

The grade W is given only to a student who officially drops a course after the first six days of the term (excluding weekends) and before the end of the 12th week of a term. Course drops are official on the date written notice is received by the Office of the Registrar. No course drops are accepted after the 12th week.

The S/U grading option is used in student teaching and internships, as well as music performance organizations and private lessons taken without credit. Other courses are graded on an A–F basis, unless the S/U option is indicated on the course schedule. A student may count no more than 12 hours of S/U graded courses toward graduation requirements (in addition to the four instances listed in the first sentence of this paragraph). For each course, the student must declare this option no later than the end of the first week of classes. The S grade indicates at least D level achievement.

The grade I is given when students are unable to complete the course requirements in the regular time due to causes that are beyond their control and when approved by the instructor (see the Office of the Registrar for approval forms). Remaining work must be of a kind that can be done largely through the independent effort of a student. Unless removed within eight weeks after the start of the next semester (fall or spring), the student will be graded for the course.

All grades are considered final and are not subject to change except for errors in calculation, or as a result of a formal grade appeal process (see the registrar for procedure). The I is changed when work is completed as stated above.

The grades IP and NR are generated for administrative use only.

CREDIT BY EXAMINATION

Within the structures outlined below, Bethel University awards advanced placement in recognition of learning that has been achieved apart from a college classroom situation. A maximum of 30 credits in advanced placement can be applied toward a degree program.

Credit may be awarded to a student who receives a qualifying score on an Advanced Placement Examination (AP) of the College Entrance Examination Board. Consult the Office of the Registrar for details.
Credit may be awarded to a student who receives a qualifying score on either a General Examination or a Subject Examination of the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP). Consult the Office of the Registrar for details.
Credit may be awarded to a student who receives a qualifying score on a DANTES Subject Standardized Test (Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support), which is equivalent to a college course. Consult the Office of the Registrar for details.
Full credit may be awarded for a particular course in which a student is able to demonstrate sufficient knowledge and ability as determined by standards of evaluation worked out and approved by the departments concerned in consultation with the dean of academic programs. This option is available only in those subject matter areas that are not covered by exams in categories 1–3, and only by consent of the related department and the Office of Academic Affairs. Credit awarded by this procedure is entered on the student’s record with an S (satisfactory) grade. A fee is charged by the university to cover testing costs.
Exemption from certain first-level courses may be granted on the basis of an adequate score on special placement examinations devised by the respective departments.
Bethel awards credit only for Higher Level IB Examinations through the International Baccalaureate program. A student may receive up to eight semester credits for each Higher Level Examination completed with a score of five, six, or seven. Course equivalents are determined by the registrar in consultation with the appropriate department on an individual basis.

ADVANCED STANDING

Students who have completed courses at other institutions of higher education may receive a limited amount of credit for those courses that are equivalent to work offered at Bethel. The amount of credit, the courses to be accepted, and the method of evaluation will be determined by the nature of the courses and the merits of each application. An applicant who has attended any school or college after graduation from high school must submit an official transcript from that institution. Only courses with a C grade or higher will be accepted in transfer.

(See requirements for a baccalaureate degree for transfer students and new students entering Bethel with college credits.)

FINAL EXAMINATIONS

At the close of the fall and spring semesters, one week is provided for final examinations. Two hours are allowed for each examination. The examination schedule is prepared by the registrar and published at the time of registration. Students are required to take examinations at the indicated time. Exceptions necessitated by conflicts with an established work schedule, severe personal hardships, or academic hardship (in the form of having three examinations on one day) must be approved by the faculty member. Exams will not be rescheduled merely for the economy and/or convenience of the student.

Final examinations are usually given in interim and summer school courses, but no special days are specifically set aside for this purpose.

BACHELOR DEGREE HONORS

Honors at graduation for bachelor’s degrees are awarded on the basis of a student’s cumulative grade point average.

Students who complete at least 68 credits at Bethel receive honors based on the following cumulative GPA criteria:

Summa Cum Laude	3.90
Magna Cum Laude	3.75
Cum Laude	3.60

Transfer students who complete fewer than 68 credits at Bethel receive honors based on the following cumulative GPA criteria:

Summa Cum Laude	3.92
Magna Cum Laude	3.80
Cum Laude	3.68

DEAN’S LIST HONORS

Students receive Dean’s List honors for each semester in which they earn at least 12 semester credit hours that carry grades used in the calculation of the grade point average (GPA) and earn a grade point average of 3.6 or better. The Dean’s List is final as of 10 days after the last day of final examinations. Students completing work after this date do not become eligible.

ACADEMIC PROGRESS, PROBATION, AND DISMISSAL

Academic Warning: Students are given an academic warning anytime their regular-term GPA is below 2.00.
Academic Probation: Students are in good academic standing when their cumulative GPA is 2.0 or higher.* Students whose cumulative GPA falls below 2.0 will be placed on academic probation (P1 level)** and will retain that status in subsequent terms until achieving 2.0, provided their GPA is improving each term. Students on P1 probation whose GPA declines during subsequent terms will be subject to further probation and, ultimately, dismissal.
Academic Dismissal: The following students may be subject to academic dismissal: (a) regularly admitted freshmen whose cumulative GPAs are below 2.0 at the end of their second semester; (b) provisionally admitted students whose cumulative GPAs are below 2.0 at the end of their second semester at Bethel; (c) all other students whose cumulative GPAs are below 2.0 for two consecutive semesters; (d) students who do not meet the stipulations set by the registrar at the time of being placed on academic probation.

Patterns of poor performance not listed in items a-d above may also lead to academic dismissal. (Note that in order to graduate, students are also required to earn a 2.25 grade point average in their major unless otherwise noted.)

Academic dismissal of any student is the decision of the Bethel University Registrar. Academic warning and academic probation may not always precede academic dismissal.
Appeals: Student appeals of academic decisions of the registrar must be made directly to the Academic Appeals Committee for review.

* Eligibility for extracurricular activities: Students in good standing are academically eligible for participation in extracurricular activities unless the activity itself has a higher academic requirement for participation. Students on P1 probation may be considered in good standing for eligibility purposes. However, these students are expected to engage in academic development activities while they are on P1 status. Students who are not in compliance with these standards or who are subject to probation beyond Level P1 are not eligible for participation in extracurricular activities.

** The University Registrar’s Office maintains several levels of academic probation, based upon a variety of factors. A description of the operating procedure used to determine probation level is available upon request.

ACADEMIC HONESTY

Since Bethel University is a Christian academic community, its fundamental purpose is the pursuit of knowledge and the development of growing Christian persons. Essential to the success of this educational mission is a commitment to principles of ethical academic integrity. Every member of the university community is responsible for upholding the highest standards of honesty at all times. Students, as members of this community, are also responsible for adhering to the principles and spirit of academic honesty. Violation of honesty standards can result in denial of credit (U or F) in a course, as well as dismissal from the university. Penalties are given at the discretion of the faculty member, and offenders may be referred to the dean of academic programs. Students charged with a violation have the right to appeal any disciplinary action. Contact the Office of Academic Affairs for details on the appeal process.

Academic Dishonesty Definitions

Activities that have the effect or intention of interfering with education, pursuit of knowledge, or fair evaluation of a student’s performance are prohibited. Examples of such activities include, but are not limited to, the following definitions:

Cheating: Using or attempting to use unauthorized assistance, material, or study aids in examinations or other academic work, or preventing or attempting to prevent another from using authorized assistance, material, or study aids. Examples: using a cheat sheet in a quiz or exam; altering a graded exam and resubmitting it for a better grade, etc.
Plagiarism: Using the ideas, data, or language of another without specific and proper acknowledgment. Examples: misrepresenting another’s work (paper, lab report, article, or computer work) as one’s own original creation and submitting it for an assignment; using someone else’s ideas without attribution; failing to cite a reference or to use quotation marks where appropriate, etc.
Fabrication: Submitting contrived or altered information in any academic exercise. Examples: making up data for an experiment; fudging data; citing nonexistent or irrelevant articles, etc.
Multiple submission: Submitting, without prior permission, any work submitted to fulfill another academic requirement. Example: submitting the same paper for two different classes, etc.
Misrepresentation of academic records: Misrepresenting or tampering with or attempting to tamper with any portion of a student’s transcripts or academic record, either before or after coming to Bethel University. Examples: forging a registration form or a change of grade slip; tampering with computer records, etc.
Facilitating academic dishonesty: Knowingly helping or attempting to help another violate any provision of this code. Example: working together on a take-home exam or other individual assignment, etc.
Unfair advantage: Attempting to gain unauthorized advantage over fellow students in an academic exercise. Examples: gaining or providing unauthorized access to examination materials (either past or present); obstructing or interfering with another student’s efforts in an academic exercise; lying about a need for an extension for an exam or paper; continuing to write even when time is up during an exam; destroying, hiding, removing, or keeping library materials, etc.
Computer crimes: Damaging or modifying computer programs without permission. Examples: software piracy; hacking; constructing viruses; knowingly introducing viruses into a system; copying programs and data belonging to others, etc.

ACADEMIC APPEALS

Appeals related to academic dismissal are made to the Academic Appeals Committee. Consult the registrar for procedures. All other academic appeals (course grades, graduation, status in programs, academic dishonesty, decisions of the registrar in applying academic policies, complaints about course content or procedures, etc.) are handled in the following manner: (1) As soon as possible following the decision or incident in question, the student will seek to resolve the matter first with the instructor, or with the party directly responsible for the decision, and then with the department chairperson. (2) If, after talking with the instructor and the department chairperson, the student still thinks he or she is being treated unfairly or not in accordance with announced academic policies, the student may appeal in writing to the dean of academic programs. This written appeal must be received within three weeks after the decision or incident in question. If the concern is a complaint about course content or procedures, the student should talk with the dean of faculty growth and assessment.

REGISTRATION IN OTHER INSTITUTIONS

Students who are regularly registered at Bethel University may take courses at other accredited institutions for transfer credit if they have prior consent of the registrar. Only courses with a C grade or better are accepted in transfer.

ROTC

The resources and programs of ROTC are available to Bethel University students. These resources include scholarships and other forms of financial aid. All credits earned in the program will transfer to Bethel. For full information contact:

ARMY	AIR FORCE
University of Minnesota Department of Military Science (Army ROTC) 101 Armory Building 15 Church Street S. E. Minneapolis, MN 55455	Air Force ROTC Det. 410 University of Saint Thomas, #5016 2115 Summit Avenue St. Paul, MN 55105-1096
612.626.1584	651.962.6320

CLASSIFICATION OF STUDENTS

The official classification of students for each academic year is made at the beginning of the fall semester on the basis of a student’s having completed credits according to the following schedule:

Freshman: fewer than 30 credits
Sophomore: at least 30 credits
Junior: at least 60 credits
Senior: at least 90 credits

READMISSION PROCEDURE

Former students who wish to re-enroll at Bethel, whether away for one semester or more (except interim), must file an application for readmission. Contact the Office of Admissions for forms and procedures.

HONORS PROGRAM

The Honors Program is designed to encourage and serve students desiring a challenging academic program that pursues Bethel’s long-standing commitment to the integration of faith and learning. See the Honors section of this catalog for specifics on this program.

INDIVIDUALIZED STUDY

Directed Studies

Juniors and seniors with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher may request to take a directed study course in their major for academic credit. Students must design the directed study course in cooperation with their academic advisor and a faculty member who will supervise the study. A directed study course may not be used to meet General Education requirements. An application for directed study must then be submitted to the registrar no later than one week before the beginning of the semester in which it is to take place. A copy of the regulations governing directed study, as well as an application form, may be obtained from the Office of the Registrar.

Academic Internships

An academic internship is an off-campus learning/practicing experience in which students apply a body of knowledge and skills in a structured “real world” setting. Credit is available through some departments to qualified students in their majors. The registrar reserves the course numbers ending in 81 to designate an internship in all participating departments. Inquiries should be directed to department chairpersons.

Individualized Major

A student may choose to develop an individualized major designed to meet his or her needs and interests. Any such program should have a coherent organizing principle that differs significantly from those underlying standard majors. The program must be developed in consultation with an academic advisor and must be submitted and approved by the end of the first semester of the student’s junior year. The complete policy and guidelines may be obtained from the Office of the Registrar.

THE FAMILY EDUCATIONAL RIGHTS AND PRIVACY ACT (FERPA)

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), as amended, is a federal law enacted to establish procedures for disclosing information contained in student records and to protect the privacy of these records. The Act applies to currently enrolled students beginning at the point of deposit (“fee paid”) and former students, but does not apply to individuals who have applied for admission, but never attended Bethel University. Applicants for admission who are denied enrollment or who are accepted but do not deposit do not have a right to review their records. Information obtained on a former student subsequent to graduation or termination of enrollment is not covered under the Act (e.g. data accumulated on alumni). All rights under the Act cease when a person dies—the university will decide on an individual basis what records of deceased students can be released and to whom they will be released.

Bethel University will notify students annually of their rights under the Act by publishing such information in the university catalog. A complete policy is available from the Office of the Registrar.

Currently enrolled and former students have a right to inspect their educational records upon written request. Students must request permission in writing to inspect their records and must present that request to the appropriate office as noted in item three of this policy. The records will be made available to the student for inspection not more than 45 days following the request. A university employee will be present while the student inspects his or her records.

Definitions:

a. A school official is a person employed by Bethel University in an administrative, supervisory, academic or research, or support staff position (including Security and Safety personnel and Health Services staff); a person or company with whom Bethel University has contracted (e.g. auditors, attorney, National Student Clearinghouse); a person serving on the Board of Trustees; or a student serving in an official committee or assisting another university official in performing his or her tasks.

b. Education Records are defined as anything that directly identifies a student and are maintained as official working files by the university. Education records may include: Class Lists; Grade Rosters; Computer Printouts; Information on a Computer Screen; Student Schedules; Documents in the Office of the Registrar; Advisee Folders; AND anything that contains the following: ID Number; Social Security Number; Grades; Exam Scores; GPA; Number of credits taken in a term; Date of Birth, etc.

The following files are NOT considered educational records under FERPA:
- Records about students made by instructors, professors, and administrators for their own use and not shown to others (sole possession records)
- Office of Security and Safety records maintained solely for law enforcement purposes and kept separate from the education records described above
- Employment records, except where a currently enrolled student is employed as a result of his or her status as a student
- Records of a physician, psychologist, or other recognized professional made or used only for treatment purposes and available only to persons providing treatment
- Records that contain only information relating to a person’s activities after that person is no longer a student at the university
- Financial information submitted by parents(s)/guardian(s)
- Directory Information not restricted by the student
- Confidential letters and recommendations placed in the student’s record if the student has waived in writing his or her right to inspect those letters and recommendations. Students may revoke a waiver at a later time, but any such waiver must be in writing and is only effective with respect to actions occurring after the revocation.
For information about educational records, contact the office in which the records are kept. Types of educational records maintained by Bethel University are as follows:

a. Office of Admissions—Application for admission, academic records from past schools attended, recommendations, and related documents. These records are transferred to the Office of the Registrar/Academic Services after the student is enrolled.

b. Office of University Financial Aid—Financial Aid applications, records of financial aid awarded, and related documents.

c. Office of the Registrar—Personal information data, course registration, records of all courses taken including grades, documents related to degree completion requirements, and other related information.

d. Business Office—Records related to all charges, payments, and emergency and Perkins loans for educational services rendered by the university.

e. Office of Career Services—Placement data completed by the student, resumes, information on courses taken toward degree, letters of recommendation from faculty and/or employers.

f. Academic Departments—Student applications to program, copies of grades, notes from student interviews, faculty recommendations, department recommendations, records of field experiences, clinicals, practica, internships, and other related documents.

g. Health Services—Student medical forms, copies of athletic physicals, and records of medical services rendered to the student through the university.

h. Office of Undergraduate Student Development—Photograph, ID card information, evaluations from residence hall personnel, interest test results, housing applications, Covenant for Life Together and miscellaneous correspondence, disciplinary information.

i. Office of Development—Personal data on alumni of the university and records of financial giving.

j. Faculty Advisors—Notes from advising sessions, copies of various communications to and from advisee, faculty, and other offices, and related advising material.
Students may request copies of available records when failure to provide a copy of the record would effectively prevent the student from inspecting and reviewing the record. Students must pay a per copy fee. A copy may be refused, but only if, in doing so, the institution does not limit the student’s right to inspect and review that record.

Unless otherwise required by law, Bethel University transcripts will not be issued to students who are delinquent in paying university charges for educational services or who are behind in financial loan repayments. Copies will not be provided of education records (e.g. transcripts) which were issued by other education institutions unless authorized by the Registrar.
Student records will be designated as “directory” or “non-directory” information. “Directory information” may be released at the discretion of university officials without the written permission of the student. Once a year students will be given the opportunity to request that directory information be withheld unless their written approval is given. Students may request to withhold disclosure of directory information by completing a form online or in the Registrar’s office. A student who is no longer enrolled cannot request that directory information be withheld. Bethel will, however, continue to honor a student’s last request with regard to the disclosure or non-disclosure of directory information made while the student was in attendance at Bethel.

a. Directory information means information contained in an education record of a student that would not generally be considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if disclosed. Directory information includes, but is not limited to: the student’s name; address; telephone listing; electronic mail address; photograph; date and place of birth; major field of study; grade level; enrollment status (e.g.; undergraduate or graduate; full time or part time); dates of attendance; participation in officially recognized activities and sports; weight and height of members of athletic teams; degrees, honors, and awards received; and the most recent educational agency or institution attended.

b. Non-directory information is defined as any personally identifiable student information which is not directory information. Directory information does NOT include a student’s social security number or student identification (ID) number, except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section.

c. Directory information includes a student ID number, user ID, or other unique personal identifier used by the student for purposes of accessing or communicating in electronic systems, but only if the identifier cannot be used to gain access to education records except when used in conjunction with one or more factors that authenticate the user’s identity, such as a personal identification number (PIN), password, or other factor known or possessed only by the authorized user. [Federal Register, Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1232g(a)(5)(A)].
“Directory” and “Non-directory information” must be released without the written consent of the student to:

Authorized representatives of the Comptroller General of the United States, the Attorney General of the United States, the Secretary of Education, or State or local educational authorities, for audit and evaluation of Federal and State supported education programs, or for the enforcement of or compliance with Federal legal requirements which relate to those programs.
“Directory” and “Non-directory information” may be released without the written consent of the student to:

a. Bethel University personnel who have a legitimate educational interest in the records.

b. Officials of another school in which the student seeks to enroll.

c. Persons or organizations involving financial aid in order to determine the student’s eligibility for financial aid; to determine the amount of financial aid; to determine conditions to be imposed regarding financial aid; and to enforce conditions of financial aid.

d. A person or organization retained to be an agent for, or under contract with Bethel University (e.g. financial auditors, attorney, National Student Clearinghouse).

e. State and local officials as allowed by state statutes concerning the juvenile justice system.

f. Organizations that are conducting studies to develop, validate, and administer predictive tests; administer student aid programs; and improve instruction. Those organizations cannot redisclose personally identifiable information of students.

g. Accrediting agencies carrying out their accrediting functions.

h. Parents of dependent students. Students who are claimed as dependents on their parents’/guardians’ most recent federal tax return.

i. To comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena. The university will notify the student when such a request occurs without the student’s knowledge unless prohibited by law.

j. Appropriate persons in a health or safety emergency.
The university can release information related to a student contained in law enforcement records so long as such records are created by a law enforcement unit, created for a law enforcement purpose, and maintained by a law enforcement unit in a manner that segregates them from records maintained by other components of the university.
The Act does not guarantee any rights to parents or guardians of students who are attending post-secondary institutions. The Act does, however, allow Bethel to provide parents with access to their student’s educational records provided the parents claim the student on their Federal income tax return. If a student is claimed as a dependent for Federal income tax purposes by either parent (regardless of the parents’ current marital status), than either parent may have access to the student’s education records without the student’s consent. Parents who did not file a Federal income tax return or did not claim their student as a dependent on their Federal income tax return may not have access to their student’s education records without their student’s express written consent.

If Bethel determines that there is an articulable and significant threat to the health or safety of a student or other individuals, it may disclose information from educational records to any person whose knowledge of the information is necessary to protect the health or safety of the student or others, provided that Bethel will only exercise this authority for the duration of the emergency.
Bethel University will maintain a record of requests for access to and disclosure of a student’s non-directory information to anyone other than the student, university officials with a legitimate educational interest, a party with the student’s written consent, or a party seeking or receiving the records as directed by a court order or lawfully issued subpoena that directs the university to refrain from disclosing the contents of the subpoena or the information furnished in response to the subpoena. A student may inspect the record of disclosure, which will be kept by the office in which the record is maintained unless such inspection is prohibited under the terms of a court order or lawfully issued subpoena.
If a student believes that information in his or her record is inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of his or her privacy rights, he or she may request that a change in the record be made. Such a request must be in writing and submitted to the appropriate university official in whose office the record in question is located (see section three). If the student disagrees with the action taken, he or she may make a written request to that official for a hearing to contest the record. A hearing will be conducted within three weeks of the written request (or as soon thereafter as is practicable) with the student having an opportunity to present all relevant evidence. The hearing panel will consist of the university official in charge of the record in question and two other officials selected by the official in charge. The student will be notified within two weeks of the hearing (or as soon thereafter as is practicable) as to the decision of the official or hearing panel. The decision of the hearing panel is final. If the student disagrees with the action taken by the hearing panel or official, he or she may place a statement in his or her educational record giving the reasons for disagreeing with the decision. (NOTE: Appeal of grades or disciplinary action should follow the processes outlined in the student handbook and academic catalog.)
Enforcement of this Act is the responsibility of the Family Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20202-5920. (The only penalties provided for violation of the Act on the part of the university is the possible elimination of federal funds received by the university. There is no private cause of action under the Act.)
Further information concerning The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act is available at www.ed.gov.

STATEMENT ON LEGITIMATE EDUCATIONAL INTEREST

For these purposes, ‘legitimate educational interests’ shall mean an EDUCATIONALLY RELATED purpose, which has a directly identifiable educational relationship to the student involved and underlies the request.

The following criteria shall be taken into account in determining whether a school official has a legitimate educational interest in the information contained in the student records at issue:

The official must seek the information within the context of the responsibilities that he or she has been assigned;
The information sought must be used within the context of official university business and not for purposes extraneous to the official’s area of responsibility or to the university;
The information requested must be relevant and necessary to the accomplishment of some task or to making some determination within the scope of university employment;
The task must be determined to be consistent with the purposes for which the data are maintained. Requests related to institutional research and studies are subject to this criterion;
The university will give student information where prescribed by law or when retained by an agent of the university or a party with whom the university has contracted (e.g. auditors, National Student Clearinghouse).

Disclosure to a school official having a legitimate educational interest does not constitute institutional authorization to transmit, share, or disclose any or all information received to a third party.