myCanvas / myCourses 
FERPA
Privacy Rights of Students in Education Records
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (Buckley Amendment) FERPA, sets forth the guidelines for the release of student records to other parties. Under this federal law, students have the right to inspect their records and correct any inaccuracies that might be found in them.
The complete FERPA policy is also available via the Federal Department of Education’s website. For more information, or to obtain a copy of the Confidentiality of Student Records policy, please contact the Registrar’s Office at (828) 694-1811.
Blue Ridge Community College may provide directory information without consent unless the individual student declares in writing to the Registrar that such information is not to be made available. The College considers the following to be directory information:
- Student’s name
- County of residence
- Dates of attendance, degrees, diplomas, certificates, or awards received
- Major field of study or program
- Participation in officially recognized activities
- Photograph
The above information may be released by the College without consent of the student. This information is also available in the Blue Ridge Community College Catalog.
If you do not want Blue Ridge Community College to disclose directory information from your educational records without your prior written consent, you must notify the Registrar’s Office in writing.
Access to the record by anyone other than the student is limited and requires prior written consent by the student. Any person who picks up sealed copies of these records for the student must have written, signed permission to do so from the student.
All records submitted for a student’s file become the property of the College and a part of the student’s permanent record. High school transcripts, transcripts from other colleges, and other similar documents are not duplicated for any reason to any person, including the student.
Leon’s Law
Leon’s Law is a North Carolina state law (Session Law 2025-46) that changes how education records are handled for students who are under 18 and enrolled in college courses.
Under this law, parents/guardians of minor students who are claimed as dependents on the most recent Federal tax return may request access to certain education records. This law works alongside FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act), the federal privacy law that protects student education records.
Release of Educational Records
The College shall disclose the education records of a student, who is under the age of 18, to:
- The student’s school administrators and school counselors at the secondary school in which the student is dually enrolled
- The student’s parent(s) or guardian(s), so long as the parent or guardian claims the student as a dependent on the parent or guardian’s federal tax return
All students under age 18 must complete the Leon’s Law Acknowledgement Form before they may register for classes. Students will not be allowed to register for courses until this form is completed.
The College may release a student’s education records to the student’s parents when requested by the parents if:
- The student is listed as a dependent on the parents’ most recent Federal tax returns
- Appropriate Federal tax return documentation must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office at registrar@blueridge.edu
Requests for student information under Leon’s Law must be directed to the Registrar’s Office in writing with physical signature by the parent(s)/guardian(s) who provide proof of claiming the student as a dependent on their most recent Federal tax returns. Requests will be processed within a maximum of five (5) business working days within receipt of the request.
Questions about the College’s release of student educational records policy should be directed to the Registrar’s Office:
Registrar’s Office
One Stop
Sink Building Room 122
(828) 694-1809
registrar@blueridge.edu