Request for Information
I. Introduction
The Registrar’s Office is responsible for reviewing requests to release information regarding
students at Amarillo College (AC). Normally what is produced when student information is
requested is a computer list with names of students and selected pieces of information.
AC departments who receive requests from external sources for student information should
refer such requests to the Registrar’s Office to prevent unauthorized access to student
information. AC has adopted this policy to insure compliance with the laws affecting privacy, to
avoid possible participation in illegal discrimination, and to act in a fashion that is in the best
educational interests of students and other members of the AC community.
The Registrar’s Office provides requestors with lists where appropriate under the Family
Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) guidelines, Texas Public Information Act, Tex. Gov't
Code Ann. §§ 552.001- 552.353 (Vernon's 1994), and the Solomon Amendment. Care must
be given to considering a) whether or not the requestor is a member of the AC community, a
vendor, an Armed Services representative or a third party entity, b) what information is being
requested (public directory information, private/confidential information), and c) whether the
student has given permission to divulge their public/directory information.
Releasable information
(Directory information)
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Student name
Participation in officially recognized
activities
Address
Telephone listing
Electronic mail address
Photograph
Degrees, honors and awards received
Date and place of birth
Major field of study
Dates of attendance
The most recent educational agency or
institution attended
Non-releasable information
(Confidential information)
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All other information (i.e. SSN,
grades, class schedule, etc.) Any
information, including directory
information, which the student has
indicated should not be released.
All requests from any of the individuals and groups identified below must be accompanied by
the attached AC Data Request Form which needs to be completed and submitted to the
Registrar’s Office. Once released the information may not be duplicated, stored by any means,
or used for any purpose other than the purpose stated on the request form. The information
may not be given to a third party.
A. Policies and Procedures
1. Amarillo College purposes
Policy: Requests from third party entities such as individuals or businesses outside
the AC community are processed according to Texas Public Information Act, Tex. Gov't
Code Ann. §§ 552.001- 552.353 (Vernon's 1994) et seq, where the information
requested is to be used for commercial purposes. The requestor must agree in writing
to fees and conditions prior to the production of the requested information. Among the
conditions that requestors must agree to are a) not to further distribute the
information received, b) to furnish copies of proposed mailing to AC, and c) not to
represent that they are affiliated with AC.
Where appropriate, confidential information as defined under FERPA (see the table on
page 1) may be released to AC-affiliated entities such as those defined in the above
paragraph with legitimate AC business needs for this information.
Procedure: Requests should be submitted in writing to the Registrar’s Office using the
AC Data Request Form. Requestors should expect at least a two-week turnaround
time. If the Registrar’s Office requires additional programming services from
Information Technology Services (ITS) is required, a special work request is initiated
and a 3 to 4 week turnaround time allowed.
Generally, students who have requested that their directory information be kept
confidential (i.e. not have their directory information released) will have their requests
honored. Only in cases where the requested information, confidential or not, is
deemed essential to the conduct of AC business, and other situations specifically
approved by FERPA, will student information be released.
2. Authorized vendors under contract:
Policy: Lists for purposes of solicitation of goods, products, or services will not be
provided to third parties free of charge unless the requestor is an authorized vendor
under contract with AC to provide such services. Contracts must be signed by an
authorized individual designated to sign documents on behalf of Amarillo College.
Procedure: Requests should be submitted to the Registrar’s Office using the AC Data
Request Form. A copy of the valid contract with authorized signatures must be
attached. Requestors should expect at least a two-week turnaround time.
Generally, students who have requested that their directory information be kept
confidential (i.e. not have their directory information released) will have their requests
honored. Only in cases where the requested information, confidential or not, is
deemed essential to the conduct of AC business, and other situations specifically
approved by FERPA, will student information be released.
3. Third party commercial requests:
Policy: Requests from third party entities such as individuals or businesses outside
the AC community are processed according to Texas Public Information Act, Tex. Gov't
Code Ann. §§ 552.001- 552.353 (Vernon's 1994) et seq where the information
requested is to be used for commercial purposes. The requestor must agree in writing
to fees and conditions prior to the production of the requested information. Among the
conditions that requestors must agree to are a) not to further distribute the
information it receives, b) to furnish copies of its proposed mailing to AC, and c) not to
represent that they are affiliated with AC.
The terms of Texas Public Information Act, Tex. Gov't Code Ann. §§ 552.001- 552.353
(Vernon's 1994) are mandatory. AC may charge a fee for producing the requested
information. The fee includes the cost of time, equipment and personnel in producing a
reproduction, and the value of the reproduction on the commercial market.
Exceptions to this law are as follows: it is determined to be in the best interest of the
State not to release the information, it is determined that release of such information
would be an unnecessary invasion of privacy, or it is determined that disclosure of
such information would violate other laws of confidentiality.
Students who have requested that their directory information be kept confidential (i.e.
not have their directory information released) will have their requests honored.
Procedure: Requests must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office using the AC Data
Request Form. Once the request is reviewed and approved, a written agreement
specifying the agreed to conditions and fees must be signed by the requestor and the
AC Registrar. An invoice is generated and sent. Payment is required in advance of
production of the requested information. The requestor is responsible for pick-up or
special delivery of the information from the Registrar’s Office.
The fee structure is as follows:
PROCESSING FEE
$150 per 2,000 names or items with a $500 mimimum
(NOTE: The processing fee will be waived for third party entities who are
already under contract with AC to provide goods, products or services but who
are requesting student information that is not stipulated in their contract. In
addition, payment is not required in advance for processing requests from
third party entities that fall under these conditions.)
4. Third party non-commercial requests:
Policy: The definition of third party extends to public sector entities such as
community colleges, school districts and/or public agencies that do not have an
agreement with AC that authorizes the release of student information. Requests from
third party entities requesting student information for non-commercial purposes will be
reviewed on a case-by-case basis against the rules and policies that apply.
Procedure: Requests must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office using the AC Data
Request Form. Once the request is reviewed and approved, a written agreement
specifying the agreed to conditions and fees must be signed by the requestor and the
AC Registrar. An invoice is generated and sent. Payment is required in advance of
production of the requested information. The requestor is responsible for pick-up or
special delivery of the information from the Registrar’s Office.
The fee structure is as follows:
PROCESSING FEE
$150 per 2,000 names or items with a $500 mimimum
(NOTE: The processing fee will be waived for third party entities who are
already under contract with AC to provide goods, products or services but who
are requesting student information that is not stipulated in their contract. In
addition, payment is not required in advance for processing requests from
third party entities that fall under these conditions.)
Generally, students who have requested that their directory information be kept
confidential (i.e. not have their directory information released) will have their requests
honored. Only in cases where the requested information, confidential or not, is
deemed essential to the conduct of College business, and other situations specifically
approved by FERPA, will student information be released.
5. Requests from the Armed Services:
Policy: Requests from the Armed Services are governed by the Solomon Amendment
which was adopted to implement the National Defense Authorization Act of 1995, the
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1996, and the Omnibus
Consolidated Appropriations Act 1997. In compliance with the Solomon Amendment,
AC provides student information to military recruiters. The Solomon Amendment
requires that only the following information be released: name, address, telephone
listing, age (or year of birth), level of education, and major.
Important points to remember stipulated in the Solomon Amendment:
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Provide recruiters only the information to which they are entitled by law.
Keep the definition of Student Recruiting Information under Solomon separate
from Directory Information under FERPA.
Do not provide dropout lists.
Do not provide information on race, gender, ethnicity, grades, etc.
Do not provide information on students under age 17.
Get requests in writing.
Provide access and information only if it is for recruiting purposes, and the
individual is a recruiter.
Students who have requested that their directory information be kept confidential (i.e.
not have their directory information released) will have their requests honored.
Procedure: Requests must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office using the AC Data
request form and will be reviewed by the AC Registrar. Payment is required in advance
of production of the requested information.
The fee structure is as follows:
PROCESSING FEE
$150 per 2,000 names or items with a $500 mimimum
(NOTE: The processing fee will be waived for third party entities who are
already under contract with AC to provide goods, products or services but who
are requesting student information that is not stipulated in their contract. In
addition, payment is not required in advance for processing requests from
third party entities that fall under these conditions.)
The requestor is responsible for pick-up or special delivery of the information from the
Registrar’s Office.