Policies

FERPA Policy and Student Records

In accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), students may inspect and challenge school educational records maintained in their name. The Cleveland Institute of Art’s policy defines a student as any person who attends or has attended the Institute.  

Educational records are defined as any record in any media maintained by the Institute directly related to a student EXCEPT:

• personal records kept by a staff member not accessible to other persons
• records created and maintained by the Institute’s operations or security for law enforcement purposes
• employment records where employment is not contingent on the fact that the individual is a student
• records maintained by a physician, psychiatrist, psychologist, or other recognized professional used only for treatment of a student
• alumni records containing information after the student is no longer in attendance that does not relate to the person as a student

Students may inspect and review their educational records upon written request to the Registrar or appropriate records custodian. Arrangements for access will be made as promptly as possible, but no longer than 45 days from the receipt date of the request. No fee will be charged for photocopying a reasonable amount of records. 

The Institute has the right to refuse a student access to their records under the following circumstances:

• the student has an unpaid financial obligation to any Institute office or department
• the student owes overdue materials or equipment to the library, Institute office, or department
• there is an unresolved disciplinary action against the student
• the educational record requested is an exam or set of standardized test questions

The Institute reserves the right to release a student’s educational records without their written consent to school officials (as outlined in the detailed FERPA policy) who have a legitimate educational interest in the records, including the parents of an eligible student who is claimed as dependent for income tax purposes. At the discretion of the Institute, information regarding student abuse of alcohol or drugs not prescribed by a physician may be reported to the parents of students 21 years of age or younger. Information considered “directory” may be released to other members of the Institute community without the student’s prior written consent unless the student notifies the Institute in writing by the end of the fourth week of classes during the semester.

If you wish to release your information, you may complete an Authorization for Release of Student Information (FERPA) form and return it to the Registrar’s Office. The Institute’s complete FERPA policy is available from the Registrar’s Office (McCullough Center, Room 202).

Student Right-to-Know and Graduation Rates

Under the Student Right-to-Know Act of 1990, the Institute must provide the following information on graduation rates of students entering as first-time, full-time freshmen: