Protecting Student Privacy

College employees can no longer release Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) related information in-person, over the phone or via email to anyone other than the student. This includes family members. 

New guidance released from the Department of Education states universities and colleges cannot release information derived from a student’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to anyone other than the student or instutional departments with express need to aid in determine eligiblity. FAFSA data includes application status, EFC (expected family contribution), financial need, award information, housing plans as declared on the FAFSA, and any other information resulting from the student’s FAFSA responses.

It has been the College's policy to allow students to sign a Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) Release of Information Authorization Form to grant permission to provide FAFSA information to others, including family members.  This practice is no longer permissible according to the U.S. Department of Education's (ED) Privacy and Technical Assistance Center’s (PTAC) interpretation of the Higher Education Act (HEA). College employees may only share this information directly with the student. For additional information on this topic, please go here.

All institutions participating in federal financial aid programs are required to provide enrolled and potential students and current and prospective employees' available consumer information.  This page provides useful links that fulfill the College's compliance with the disclosure requirements under the 1998 Amendments to the Higher Education Act of 1965 to disclose annually where the following student consumer information may be found. You can find this information here.