Important confidentiality information for parents/guardians
Now that your high school student is an official Feather River College student, your student is now protected by
the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974.
What does this mean? When a student reaches the age of 18 or begins attending a post-secondary institution,
regardless of age, FERPA rights are transferred from the parent/guardian to the student. Students must act on their
own behalf. Parents, guardians, relatives, or friends of Feather River College students are not permitted to enroll,
drop, or add classes on behalf of the student. The same applies for transcript requests and enrollment verifications.
Since the community college environment addresses the learning needs of adults, there are some concerns to
consider when enrolling high school students in courses at Feather River College such as: the possibility of
controversial content of courses, the maturity level of minor students that enables them to learn the content and
perform at an equivalent level to the adults in the classroom, and the ability for minors to perform out-of-class
assignments that may require travel.
Faculty establish a syllabus for each course, which include the course content or objectives, assignments, a general
guide to the pacing of the course and information about how grades will be determined. Once a student receives
the syllabus for the course from the instructor and the student decides to remain enrolled in the course, the syllabus
becomes the contract between the student and instructor.
Frequently Asked Questions
As a parent/guardian, do I have access to my son’s/daughter’s academic records?
Under FERPA regulations, parents/guardians of community college students do not have a right to access their
children's student records, regardless of whether the student is under/over the age of 18. In accordance with this
regulation, students' academic records may be released to parents/guardians only with the written consent of the
student. Students may obtain an Authorization to Release Information form from the FRC website or at the
Admissions & Records Office.
I am a parent/guardian and I need help logging in to, navigating, and/or processing transactions in my
student's MyFRC account. What do I do?
College officials may only assist the student with access to his/her MyFRC account, which contains records
covered under FERPA. Additionally, students at Feather River College are expected to act on their own behalf.
As a parent/guardian, can I contact my son's/daughter's instructor regarding course content, assignments
and/or grading policy?
Under FERPA regulations instructors are not permitted to discuss student performance or other student-related
issues with parents/guardians without a signed Authorization to Release Information from the high school student,
including progress or grades. Your student is enrolled in a college course and it is important to understand that
instructors may only work directly with students, as opposed to the type of parent/guardian interactions you are
accustomed to at the high school level.
More information about FRC’s FERPA policy is available on our website: www.frc.edu.