- The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days of the day Gulf Coast State College receives a request for access. Students would submit to the Registrar’s Office written requests that identify the record(s) they wish to inspect. The Registrar will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. If the records are not maintained by the Registrar’s Office the student shall be advised of the correct official to who the request should be addressed.
- The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the student believes is inaccurate. Students may ask Gulf Coast State College to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate. They should write the Registrar, clearly identify the part of the records they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate. If Gulf Coast State College decides not to amend the record as requested by the student, the student shall be notified of the decision and advised as to his or her right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the student when notified of the right to a hearing.
- 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 Gulf Coast State College in an administrative, supervisory, academic, research, or support staff position (including law enforcement personnel and health staff); a person or company with whom Gulf Coast State College has contracted (such as an attorney, auditor, collection agent, degree conferral & transcript processing agent, document managing agent, and placement sites for internship or similar student work/study opportunities); a person serving on the Board of Trustees; 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; consultants, volunteers or other outside parties to who Gulf Coast State College has outsourced institutional services or functions that it would otherwise use employees to perform. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education records in order fulfill his or her professional responsibility. As allowed with FERPA guidelines, Gulf Coast State College may disclose education records without consent to officials of another school, upon request, in which a student seeks or intends to enroll.
- The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by Gulf Coast State College to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the Office administers FERPA is:
Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202‐5901
- What conditions apply to disclosure of information in health and safety emergencies?
- Gulf Coast State College may disclose personally identifiable information from an education record to appropriate parties, including parents of an eligible student, in connection with an emergency if knowledge of the information is necessary to protect the health or safety of the student or other individuals.
- Nothing in the 20 U.S.C. 1232g (b)(1)(l) and (h) or this part shall prevent Gulf Coast State College from:
- Including in the education records of a student appropriate information concerning disciplinary action taken against the student for conduct that posed a significant risk to the safety or well-being of that student, other students, or other members of the school community;
- Disclosing appropriate information maintained under paragraph (b)(1) of this section to instructors and school officials within Gulf Coast State College who have been determined to have legitimate educational interests in the behavior of the student; or
- Disclosing appropriate information maintained under paragraph (b)(1) of this section to instructors and school officials in other schools who have been determined to have legitimate educational interests in the behavior of the student.
- In making a determination under paragraph (a) of the section, Gulf Coast State College may take into account the totality of the circumstances pertaining to a threat to the health or safety of a student or other individuals. If Gulf Coast State College determines that there is an articulable and significant threat to the health or safety of a student or other individuals, it may disclose information from education records to any person whose knowledge of the information is necessary to protect the health or safety of the student or other individuals.
At its discretion, Gulf Coast State College may provide Directory Information in accordance with the provisions of the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act. Directory Information is defined as that information which would not generally be considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if disclosed. Designated Directory Information at Gulf Coast State College includes the following:
- 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
Students may withhold Directory Information by notifying the registrar in writing; please note that such withholding requests are binding for all information to all parties other than for those exceptions allowed under the Act. Students should consider all aspects of a Directory Hold prior to filing such a request.
Health or Safety Emergency (FERPA)
In an emergency, FERPA permits school officials to disclose without student consent education records, including personally identifiable information from those records, to protect the health or safety of students or other individuals. At such times, records and information may be released to appropriate parties such as law enforcement officials, public health officials, and trained medical personnel. See 34 CFR § 99.31(a)(10) and § 99.36. This exception to FERPA's general consent rule is limited to the period of the emergency and generally does not allow for a blanket release of personally identifiable information from a student's education records. In addition, the Department interprets FERPA to permit institutions to disclose information from education records to parents if a health or safety emergency involves their son or daughter.
Notification of Social Security Number Collection
and Usage
In compliance with FL Statute 119.071(5), Gulf Coast State College (GCSC) issues this notification
regarding the purpose of the collection and use of your
Social Security Number (SSN).
GCSC collects your Social Security Number for use in performance of the College’s duties and responsibilities. To protect your identity GCSC will secure your Social Security Number from unauthorized access. GCSC will never release your Social Security Number to unauthorized parties, and each student/employee at GCSC will be issued a unique student/employee identification number. Your unique ID number is used for all associated employment and educational purposes at GCSC including registration, access of your online records, etc. You are not required to disclose your Social Security Number in accordance with US Public Law 90-579. However, the Social Security Number is required of all students seeking federal financial aid and must be provided in order to obtain the IRS deduction for college attendance.
EMPLOYEES
Human Resources Department
Your Social Security Number (SSN) is used for legitimate
business purposes in compliance with:
- Completing and processing the Federal I‐9
(Department of Homeland Security)
- Completing and processing Federal W4, W2, 1099
(Internal Revenue Service)
- Completing and processing Federal Social Security
taxes (FICA)
- Processing and Distributing Federal W2 (Internal
Revenue Service)
- Completing and processing quarterly
Unemployment Reports (FL Dept of Revenue)
- Completing and processing Florida Retirement
Contribution reports (FL Dept of Revenue)
- Workers Comp Claims (FCCRMC and Department of
Labor)
- Completing and processing Direct Deposit
Files(Bank of America, ACH)
- Completing and processing 401(a), 403(b) and 457
contribution reports
- Completing and processing group health, life and
dental coverage enrollment
- Completing and processing various supplemental
insurance deduction reports
Providing your Social Security Card is a condition of
employment at GCSC.
STUDENTS
Admissions
Federal legislation relating to the Hope Tax Credit
requires that all postsecondary institutions report the
Social Security Number of all postsecondary students to
the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). This IRS
requirement makes it necessary for community colleges
to collect the SSN of every student. A student may
refuse to disclose his or her SSN to the College for this
purpose, but the IRS is then authorized to fine the
student.
In addition to the federal reporting requirements, the
public school system in Florida uses Social Security
Number as a student identifier (section 1008.386, F.S.).
In a seamless K‐20 system, it is beneficial for
postsecondary institutions to have access to the same
information for purposes of tracking and assisting
students in the smooth transition from one education
level to the next.
Social Security Numbers are protected by federal
regulations and are never released to unauthorized
parties.
Financial Aid
A student's Social Security Number is required for the
following financial aid purposes:
The United States Department of Education's (USDOE)
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) requires
all applicants to report their SSN to be used for all federal
financial aid programs as a student identifier for
processing and reporting. In addition to its use by USDOE
as a student identifier, the SSN is required in order for the
Department of Homeland Security to investigate
citizenship status, for the Federal Work Study Program,
and is required on all loan applications for use by the
lender/servicer/guarantor.
GCSC collects a student's SSN on certain institutional
scholarship applications for student files and federal and
state audit/reporting purposes.
If you are recipient of a State of Florida grant or
scholarship such as the Florida Student Assistance
Grant, Florida Work Experience or Bright Futures the
State of Florida Department of Education will require
the use of the Social Security Number on their
grant/scholarship disbursement website and for
reporting purposes.
Veterans Affairs
The Social Security Number is required for enrollment
verification and reporting for all Veterans
Administration beneficiaries. A Veteran student is
required to report his/her Social Security Number in
order to receive the appropriate benefits and for
tracking purposes. Required by 38 USC 3471.
Library
The Gulf Coast ID number will be used in the Library’s patron database (LINCC) for online login authentication, patron verification, and the elimination of duplicate records. Social Security Numbers are not collected or used in the library.
Outreach Programs
The College Reach‐Out Programs are youth outreach
(intervention) projects funded by discretionary grants
from the US or Florida Departments of Education. In
order to verify a participant's project eligibility, Social
Security Number are required and also later used when
submitting information for the annual Performance
Reports due to the US or Florida Department of
Education.
Workforce Programs
These programs, funded through the Agency for
Workforce Innovation (AWI), use your Social Security
Number as an identifier for program enrollment and
completion. Also, it is used for entering placement
information into either the OSMIS or for Employ Florida
Marketplace statewide data collection and reporting
system. Because these are performance based contract
programs, AWI requires that all participants and their
program related activities be recorded in the Florida
state system.
Contractors
Gulf Coast State College collects contractor Social
Security Number information in order to file the
required information returns with the Internal Revenue
Service, as required and authorized by federal law. Gulf Coast State College will never release your Social
Security Number to unauthorized parties.
Student ID Numbers
All GCSC students are issued a unique Student Identification (ID) number upon admission to the College. Your Student ID number can be found when you log into OASIS for your first access to your online records. All college transactions will require the student to provide their ID number.
Degree Audit
The Institutional Degree Audit is a program that matches a student’s academic history against a specific GCSC major program for a specific catalog year to determine which course requirements have been met and which are still unsatisfied. Students may access their individual degree audit by visiting www.gulfcoast.edu and click on web registration, or by requesting a copy of their degree audit from an adviser located in the E.A. Gardner Advising Center.
Parking and Campus Security
Campus security and parking safety are important for students, staff, and visitors to Gulf Coast State 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, ext. 3111, from any college phone or 872-4750 ext. 311.
- 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 director and/or staff located in Building A.
- Safety concerns at the North Bay Center should be reported to the division chair and/or staff located in the Abbott Classroom Building.
Operating a vehicle on college properties is a privilege and it is the student’s responsibility to adhere to all published guidelines and posted
traffic information. Failure to follow these rules may result in the loss of this privilege.
All parking areas are color coded accordingly:
a) green curb parking is reserved for faculty and staff,
b) blue curb parking is reserved for
handicapped permits,
c) and yellow curb parking areas are designated as No Parking.
Any areas not marked as previously designated are available for student and guest parking. Effective with the 2009 fall semester, all vehicles on the GCSC Panama City campus, the North Bay Center, and the Gulf/Franklin Center will be required to display a parking decal or temporary permit, as appropriate. The cost of the first decal or permit is included in the student’s fee and additional decals are available for fee-paying students at a small additional cost.
Students, faculty, staff, and visitors parking in restricted areas will receive traffic citations for violations. Fines must be paid in a timely manner in the college’s Business Office or the fines will increase in accordance with guidelines published on the college’s website. Funds generated from parking violations will be placed in a student loan fund
administered by Financial Aid.
To aid in the prevention of accidents and criminal activity on campus, GCSC requests students report suspicious activities to staff immediately. The Florida State University – Panama City Campus Police monitor parking areas and buildings for the safety of our students, faculty, and staff. “Campus Crime Watch Area” signs with instructions and periodic crime awareness programs help student’s protect their personal safety and possessions on campus.
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 2007, 2008 and 2009. 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.
Parking Decals/Temporary Passes
Vehicles on all Gulf Coast State College properties are required to display a college parking decal or temporary pass issued by the sponsoring department for short duration events. Failure to comply with this requirement may result in a traffic fine, and repeated offenses may result in a loss of driving privileges on campus. Parking fees are established annually and approved by the District Board of Trustees as part of the annual operating budget. Parking fees are to be used for the maintenance of parking areas, pedestrian walking areas, lighting, costs of maintaining the public trolley access, and other associated costs.
Parking tickets will not be issued during public events such as public forums, athletic events, and performing arts performances provided the vehicle is otherwise legally parked.
The cost of the first parking decal for GCSC and FSU-PC students is included in the student’s fees. Decals, valid for the remainder of the year expiring on July 31, may be obtained by presenting a copy of a paid fee receipt in the college’s E. A. Gardner Advising Center located near the Admissions & Enrollment Services Office. A second decal, if needed, may be obtained by the student at a cost of $5 to cover administrative costs.
Temporary passes are available for others attending events of short duration on college properties and may be obtained by contacting the sponsoring department on campus. Students using temporary forms of transportation, such as a rental vehicle, may obtain a temporary pass in the Student Activities area located adjacent to the Commodore Café in Student Union East, rather than purchase an additional decal.
Handicapped Parking
Parking in handicapped parking spaces requires a state-issued tag or placard, and violations are subject to civil penalties as allowed by Florida Statute.
CAMPUS CRIME REPORT STATISTICS - NUMBER OF OFFENSES REPORTED
| OFFENSES |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
Homicide |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Sex Offenses, Forcible |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Robbery |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Burglary/Breaking & Entering |
1 |
0 |
0 |
Larceny/Theft |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Motor Vehicle Theft |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Illegal Weapons |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Drug Law Violations |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Liquor Law Violations |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Drug/Alcohol Fatalities |
0 |
0 |
0 |
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 State 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 State 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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