Administrative Policies

Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA)

Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act

Annually Butler County Community College informs students of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974, also known as the Buckley Amendment. This Act, with which the College intends to comply fully, was designated to protect the privacy of education records, to establish the right of students to inspect and review their educational records, and to provide guidelines for the correction of inaccurate or misleading data through informal and formal hearings. Students also have the right to file complaints with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act Office concerning alleged failures by the institution to comply with Act.

BC3 policy explains in detail the procedures to be used by the institution for compliance with the provisions of the Act. Copies of the Policy can be found in the Office of Records and Registration. Questions concerning the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act may be referred to the Office of Records and Registration.

Students should be aware that the College releases Public information requested by interested persons or agencies without written permission of the student unless the currently enrolled student submits a written request to the Office of Records and Registration that this information should not be released. Public information which may be disclosed includes a student’s name, address, major field of study, participation in activities and sports, weight and height of members of athletic teams, dates of attendance, degrees and awards received, previous educational institutions attended by the student, photographs, and videos. At Butler County Community College, Public information does not include Social Security Number, birth date, phone number, email address, or salaries.

Currently enrolled students have the right to withhold disclosure of all (not partial) categories of public information. To withhold disclosure, written notification must be received in the Office of Records and Registration prior to mid-semester of each semester/summer session. Students are cautioned that withholding information can have adverse consequences when we are unable to verify attendance or degrees to agencies, insurance companies, or prospective employers. Former students and alumni are not covered under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974. Therefore the College is not obligated to honor requests for non-disclosure of Public information from former students.

Nondiscrimination Policy

Butler County Community College is committed to providing equal opportunity in admissions and treatment of students, in educational programs for students, in employment opportunities and in governance of the College, without regard to race, color, religious creed, ancestry, national origin, handicap or disability, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, family status, or other classification protected by applicable law.

The College shall take affirmative action to ensure (1) that it does not discriminate against an employee or applicant for employment or another person because of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, national origin, handicap or disability, age, sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, family status, or other classification protected by applicable law; (2) that it does not subject students to unlawful discrimination in the admission process, take any action, direct or indirect, to segregate students in a classroom or course, or subject students to different or separate treatment in, nor restrict the enjoyment by a student of, a service, facility, activity or program at the College on the basis of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, national origin, handicap or disability, age, sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, family status, or other classification protected by applicable law; and (3) that it does not discriminate in the employment of administrators on the basis of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, national origin, handicap or disability, age, sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, family status, or other classification protected by applicable law and that its governance structure includes diverse membership broadly representative of the public interest as may be required by law or regulation.

There shall be no retaliation against any applicant, employee, or student for filing a harassment or discrimination complaint, or assisting, testifying, or participating in the investigation of such a complaint. Any applicant, employee, or student reporting sexual or other harassment or discrimination will also be protected from reprisals or retaliation by the College, any supervisors, and/or co-workers as a result of such complaint(s).

The College is committed to be in compliance with the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act (43 P. S. §§ 951-962.2) and the Pennsylvania Fair Educational Opportunities Act (24 P.S. § § 5001-5009). Employment and educational opportunities at Butler County Community College are available to all as required by Title VI, Title VII, Title IX, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the Pennsylvania Fair Educational Opportunities Act, the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act, and all applicable laws and regulations.

For information regarding equal education and employment opportunity including services, activities and facilities that are usable and accessible to disabled persons, contact the Executive Director of Human Resources/Equal Opportunity Compliance Officer, Butler County Community College by telephone at (724) 287-8711, Ext. 8353, or in writing at 107 College Drive, Butler, PA 16002. If an applicant, employee, or student is physically or mentally disabled, he/she may request accommodations, academic adjustments, or auxiliary aids or services. Information on the College’s services for disabled students may be obtained from the Academic Counselor and Disabilities Coordinator at Ext. 8327. Employees or applicants should contact the Executive Director of Human Resources/Equal Opportunity Compliance Officer at Ext. 8353 for more information.

For information regarding the College’s Grievance Procedure, visit our website at www.bc3.edu/humanresources/grievance-procedure.asp or contact the Executive Director of Human Resources/Equal Opportunity Compliance Officer, Butler County Community College by telephone at Ext. 8353 or in writing at the above address.

Nonsolicitation Policy

The Director of Student Life under the direction of the Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management has general responsibility for determining distribution privileges and for enforcing the following guidelines:

A. Distribution of Literature

Permission to distribute literature must be obtained from the Director of Student Life - upper level of the Student Success Center, Ext. 8249.
Literature may only be distributed in designated areas assigned by the Director of Student Life.

B. Bulletin Board

Any information placed on campus bulletin boards by off-campus agencies or persons must be dated and stamped for approval at the Student Life Office in the upper level of the Student Success Center.
The approved material may be posted for no more than three weeks. Permission for extended posting must be granted by the Director of Student Life.
Posted materials must bear the name of the sponsoring individual or organization.
The Director of Student Life will be responsible for removing outdated materials on all bulletin boards.

C. Solicitation on Campus

Permission to promote political, social, etc. causes by means of soliciting, surveying, or otherwise encountering students on the Butler County Community College campus must be granted by the Director of Student Life. Such solicitation must be restricted to voluntary, not mandatory, student interest.
Individuals or organizations not affiliated directly with Butler County Community College will not be permitted to sell any product, food, raffle ticket, or service on the College campus without permission from the Director of Student Life. Any approved sale will be restricted to a designated area and may not involve involuntary solicitation.

D. Solicitation off-campus

Individuals or organizations representing the College are not permitted to solicit off-campus without permission of the Director of Student Life. This includes raffle tickets, sponsorships, and other fund raisers.
Individuals or organizations representing the College are not permitted to solicit or authorize advertising without the permission of the Director of Student Life. Examples include ads in programs, welcome folders, event sponsorships, etc.

The guidelines are intended to protect the rights of students, to maintain the aesthetic quality of Butler County Community College, and to make it possible for divergent views to be expressed in an orderly manner. Decisions of the Director of Student Life may be appealed to the Dean of Student Development and, ultimately, to the College President.