Student Privacy - FERPA
As a student at Montgomery College, your education record information is protected by FERPA. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974 is a federal law that requires Montgomery College to treat your education records in a legally specified manner.
As a student, under FERPA you have the following rights:
- The right to inspect and review your own education records within 45 days of the day the College receives a request for access.
- The right to request to amend of your education records if you believe they are inaccurate or misleading.
- The right to limit the disclosure of personally identifiable information designated by the College as "directory information."
- The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning an
alleged failure by the 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
600 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20202-4605
Student FAQs
If you are 18 or have attended at least one class at Montgomery College, your education records are protected by the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), regardless of who is paying the tuition bill. FERPA is a federal law that limits access to student education records, including grades and class schedules.
Now that you’re at college, you are required to take care of registration, payment arrangements, etc. on your own; we recommend that you also maintain open communication with your parents about your Montgomery College experience.
See the following pages:
For additional help, contact the IT Service Desk at 240-567-5000, option 1 for English, 2 for MyMC Log-in Assistance.
Montgomery College does not currently provide third party access to MyMC. You are strongly advised not to share your log-in information with anyone, as you will be held fiscally and legally responsible for actions taken through MyMC.
You could log on to MyMC with your parents or spouse, since they may wish to view your current account balance and help you sign up for a payment plan. Your parents may also wish to have a copy of your grades and current class schedule, which you can print from MyMC.
The Office of Admissions and Records has a form called "Permission to Release/Withhold Education Record Information." You have to complete this form in person at the Office of Admissions and Records. The form will allow you to designate parties that may be given full access to view your student record. Once you this form, the parties that you provide access may come in person to the Office of Admissions and Records and present a picture ID for access to your student record.
Please note: Third party access to a student’s record does not include current academic progress. This means that while a third party may be provided access to final, earned grades, Montgomery College will not provide progress reports for the current semester. Third parties should not contact your professors on your behalf.
Any student at Montgomery College may submit the Permission to Release/Withhold Education Record Information form. This form provides students the legal right to request Montgomery College withhold directory information. All non-directory information is already protected unless signed, student consent is provided.
It’s important to understand that this option will greatly limit the accessibility of your records, which can often prove burdensome. Likewise, this is an “all or nothing” option. All information will be withheld from all requestors unless the request is a clear FERPA exception; Montgomery College may honor your request not to disclose non-directory information, but FERPA does not require Montgomery College do this. You may not request non-disclosure to a particular person or group of persons.
The “Confidential” hold remains in effect until you direct the Office of Records and Registration, in writing, to remove it. This is even true after you stop attending Montgomery College.
You have the right to request non-disclosure only while in attendance; if you have left Montgomery College, you no longer have the right of non-disclosure.
Often your parents or spouse need a letter of certification about your enrollment to provide an employer for tuition benefits or insurance companies to continue coverage and/or receive a discounted rate. The Office of Records and Registration processes these requests on a daily basis.
If the employer, insurance company, etc. provides a form to be filled out, the student should drop off the appropriate form to the Office of Records and Registration for processing. The Office of Records and Registration also produces enrollment verification letters.
Parent FAQs
The Office of Records and Registration has a "Permission to Release/Withhold Education Record Information" form. Students may complete this form at the Office of Admissions and Records. The form allows students to designate third parties who may have full access to their student records. Should a parent wish to take access a student's record, they must come in person to the Office of Records and Registration and present a picture ID and their most recent Federal Tax Return verifying that the student is a legal, tax dependent.
Please note: Parental access to a student’s record does not include current academic progress. This means that you may be provided access to grades earned, Montgomery College will not provide progress reports to parents for the current semester. Your best bet is to maintain open communication with your son/ daughter about their academic progress at Montgomery College.