ATTENDANCE
Regular attendance and participation in classes is expected and considered essential for successful academic work. Each instructor is responsible for including an attendance policy for his/her class in the course plan shared with the students at the beginning of the course, and each student is responsible for the policy stated for each course. A student must assume full responsibility for work missed because of his/her absence.
A faculty member may recommend an administrative withdrawal whenever a student misses 2 consecutive class sessions and does not contact the instructor. A grade of “F” may be assigned by the instructor if a student does not follow the prescribed procedures of withdrawing from a course.
STUDENT RECORDS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The students' academic records are confidential and access to them is limited to the student and, for advisory or other educational purposes, to designated administration and faculty. This policy is consistent with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974. The student's academic record may not be released to other persons or agencies outside the University without the written permission of the student. Students, upon request, may inspect and review their academic records in the Registrar's Office. A copy of the Heritage University policy in compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 is available below and in the Academic Affairs or administrative offices on each campus.
Notification of Student Rights under Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA)
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect to their education records. These rights include the following:
1. 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, Dean, head of the academic department, or other appropriate official a written request that identifies the record(s) they wish to inspect. The University 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.
2. The right to request the amendment of the student’s educational records that the student believes are inaccurate or misleading.
Students may ask the University to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading. Students may request amendment of a record(s) by writing the University official responsible for the record, clearly identifying the part of the record they want changed, and specifying 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 or her 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 consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s educational 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 the University in an administrative, supervisory, academic or research, or support staff position (including law enforcement unit personnel and health staff); a person or company with whom the University 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 or her tasks.
A school official has a legitimate education interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility.
4. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failure by Heritage University to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The following is the name and address that administers FERPA:
Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
600 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202-4605
Note: Some student information is considered directory-type data and may be released to the public. Student directory information includes the following:
Name, address, and telephone listing
Field of study (major)
Date and place of birth
Participation in officially recognized activities and sports
Dates of attendance, degrees, and awards
Photographs
STUDENT DIRECTORY INFORMATION
Some student information is considered directory-type data as explained above and may be released to the public if a student is enrolled at Heritage University. Student directory information includes name, current enrollment, address, telephone number, dates and place of birth, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, dates of attendance, major field of study, honors, degrees, whether full-time or part-time, and photographs. All other information regarding the student academic record is restricted and may not be released.
Students may request that directory information not be released to the public by indicating this during registration or at any time in the Registrar's Office, Toppenish, the Moses Lake office, the Seattle office or the Kennewick office.