Student Rights
It is important that students at MVNU understand the limits or parameters of their rights.
First, MVNU is a private church university. This indicates that MVNU students are in a different category than students at a public, state-supported university. Comparisons between both must take this into consideration.
Second, MVNU students are in a "contractual" relationship. As voluntary attendees, students agree to accept the responsibility to fulfill MVNU community rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.
Third, MVNU may dismiss a GPS student if it deems the student’s behavior to be incompatible with its standards. Students may be suspended, dismissed, expelled, or withdrawn on either academic and/or behavioral grounds.
Fourth, MVNU subscribes to federal regulations protecting student privacy. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect to their education records. It is codified at 20 U.S.C. section 1232g. The United States Department of Education has issued regulations to implement the law.
Right to Privacy (FERPA)
In accord with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974, each student has these privacy rights:
- The right to inspect and review information contained in the student’s educational records.
- The right to challenge the contents of the student’s educational records.
- The right to a hearing if the outcome of the challenge is unsatisfactory.
- The right to submit an explanatory statement for inclusion in the educational record if the outcome of the hearing is unsatisfactory.
- The right to prevent disclosure, with certain exceptions, of personally identifiable information.
The University may release directory information without the student's consent unless the student requests that such information not be disclosed. With the exception of directory information, the University cannot release any information to third parties or non-University personnel (including academic information) about a student without an electronic waiver on file in the University Registrar’s Office. When waivers are filed, they pertain to all terms of enrollment at the university until the student rescinds the permission.
Students will need to complete the Information Release Form. In the Information Release Form the student will be able to select the type of information to be released and which individuals are permitted to have access to that released information.
The federal law may be accessed at:
http://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/ferpa/index.html
The federal regulations may be accessed at:
http://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/ferpa/leg-history.html