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Student Services

STUDENT RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Gulf Coast Community College maintains privacy rights of students and a list of student rights and responsibilities are published annually in the Student Handbook. Academic and nonacademic grievance procedures are also outlined in this section of the Student Handbook. Handbooks may be obtained in the Office of Student Activities. Individual copies of the Student Rights and Responsibilities document may also be obtained in the office of the Vice President of Student Support and Enrollment Management.

STUDENT RIGHT-TO-KNOW

Student Persistence Rate. A student cohort of full-time, degree-seeking students first enrolled at Gulf Coast Commu­nity College in the fall semester 1999 was sampled to determine student persistence. Of that sample, 56.07 percent received degrees or continued to be enrolled after four years of initial enrollment (FCCS, Accountability Measure 1, Part 2).

Placement Rate of Vocational Completers. The job placement rate for students enrolled in vocational programs at GCCC for the 1997-1998 academic year was 81.23 percent; for the 1998-1999 academic year, 84.79 percent, and for 1999-2000, 87.94 percent (FCCS, Accountability Measure 3, Part 2).

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act affords students certain rights with respect to their educational records. These rights include:

1. The right to inspect and review the student's education records within 45 days of the day the college receives a request for access. Students should submit to the director of enrollment services written requests that identify the records(s) they wish to inspect. The college official will make arrangements for access and notify the students of the time and place where the records will be inspected. If the records are not maintained by the college 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 education records that the student believes is inaccurate. Students may ask the college to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate. They should write the college official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate. If the college decides not the amend the record as requested by the student, the college 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 students when notified of the right to a hearing.
3. The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student's education 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 college 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 college has contracted (such as 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 educational 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 failures by a college of comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the office that administers FERPA is:

   Family Policy Compliance Office
   U.S. Department of Education
   400 Maryland Avenue, SW
   Washington, DC 20202-4605

Students or parents who request his or her educational records should consider the following:

1. Directory Information - The following information may be released to anyone unless a student specifies in writing to the director of enrollment services that the information is not to be released.
• Student's name.
• Date of birth.
• Major field of study.
• Enrollment status.
• Participation in recognized activities and sports.
• Weight and height of athletic team members.
• Dates of attendance.
• Degrees, awards, and previous schools attended.
• Photograph.

Non-directory information may be released to state and governmental agencies in accordance with state and federal guidelines.

2. Granting Access to Students or Parents - Only students can request that their transcript be sent to another person or institution. Requests must be in writing and include the student's signature and photo identification. Phone calls are not acceptable for transcript requests. With proper identification, students may have access to their records located in the Office of Admissions and Records. In order for a parent or guardian to have access to a student's records, they must certify that the student is economically dependent as defined by the IRS Code.

Campus Security Information - Campus security and safety are important for students, staff, and visitors to Gulf Coast Community College. Employees and students should keep personal safety as their first priority and take the following steps in case of an emergency:

• Call the FSU Police, extension 3111, from any college phone or 774-2705.
• Call 911 if a life-threatening emergency.
• Call the college switchboard operator, extension 2800, from any college phone or 769-1551.
• Safety concerns at the Gulf/Franklin Center should be reported to the coordinator and/or staff located in Building A.

Campus security includes a strict prohibition about the possession, use, or sale of alcoholic beverages and illegal drugs. The "Drug Free Campus" policy found in the College Catalog, the Student Handbook, and the Employee Handbook describes college policies regarding the possession, use, or sale of alcoholic beverages and illegal drugs.

The annual campus security report contains campus crime statistics for years 2004, 2005, and 2006. Statistics concern criminal offenses, as defined by the university crime reporting format, reported to campus security or local police agencies. Additional information can be found at the OPE Campus Security Statistics website (http://ope.ed.gov/security) brought to you by the U.S. Department of Education.

CAMPUS CRIME REPORT STATISTICS - NUMBER OF OFFENSES REPORTED

CAMPUS SEX CRIMES PREVENTION ACT NOTICE

Pursuant to Sections 775.21, 943.0435, and 944.607, Florida Statutes requiring notification to institutions of higher education if a sexual predator or sexual offender is enrolled, or carrying on a vocation at an institution of higher education in this state, the Florida Department of Corrections will notify such institution. Information regarding such offenders attending Gulf Coast community College may be obtained in the Office of the Vice President of Student Support and Enrollment Management or accessed online at www.fdle.state.fl.us.

DRUG FREE CAMPUS

In compliance with the Drug Free Schools and Communities Act Amendment of 1989, Gulf Coast Community College...

...prohibits the unlawful possession, use, or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol by all students and employees;

...enforces sanctions, including those applicable under local, state, and federal law, for unlawful possession, use, or distri­bution of illicit drugs and alcohol, including but not limited to suspension, expulsion, termina­tion of employment, and referral for prosecution which may result in arrest, appropriate fines, and imprisonment;

...believes that there are many detrimental health risks associated with the use of illicit drugs and the abuse of alcohol, including but not limited to psychological and physical addiction, insomnia, disorientation, depression, hallucinations, hypertension, increased anxiety and paranoia, damage to unborn fetuses, convulsions, cancer, psychosis, respiratory failure, brain damage, and death;

...encourages anyone with a drug or alcohol problem to seek help at one of the local agencies which include but are not limited to the following:

Alcoholics Anonymous	784-7431
Chemical Addictions Recovery Effort, Inc.	872-7676
Life Management Center of Northwest Florida	769-9481

More information may be obtained in the Counseling Center.

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