Catalog 2025-2026

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Release of Information

TCSG and Athens Technical College will disclose information from a student's education records only with the written consent of the student, except that the records may be disclosed without consent when the disclosure is: 

  • To TCSG and Athens Technical College officials who have a legitimate educational interest in the records. A TCSG or Technical College official is: 
    • A person employed by TCSG or Athens Technical College in an administrative, supervisory, academic, research, or support staff position, including health or medical staff or outside personnel performing work usually performed by college personnel.
    •  A person is serving on TCSG or the college's board.
    • A person employed by or under contract to TCSG or the college to perform a particular task, such as an attorney or auditor. 
    • A person employed by TCSG or the college's law enforcement unit. 
    • A student serves on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assists another TCSG or Athens Technical College official in performing his or her tasks. 
    •  A contractor, consultant, volunteer, or another party to whom TCSG or the college has outsourced institutional services as provided in 34 CFR § 99.31(a)(1)(i)(B). 
  • A TCSG or Athens Technical College official has a legitimate educational interest if the official meets the following conditions:
    • They are performing a task specified in the position description or contract agreement. 
    • They were performing a task related to a student's education. 
    • They were performing a task related to the discipline of a student. 
    • They provide a service or benefit for the student or family, such as health care, counseling, job placement, or financial aid. 
    • They were maintaining the safety and security of the campus.
  • The custodian will determine whether or not a legitimate educational interest exists in the records on a case-by-case basis. When the custodian has any question regarding the request, the custodian should withhold disclosure unless the custodian obtains consent from the student or the concurrence of a supervisor or other appropriate official that the record may be released. 
  • Subject to the requirements of 34 C.F.R. § 99.34, to officials of another school, school system, or post-secondary institution, upon request, in which a student seeks or intends to enroll or where the student is already enrolled as long as the disclosure is for purposes related to the student’s enrollment or transfer. 
  • Subject to the conditions outlined in 34 C.F.R. §99.35, authorized representatives of the Comptroller General of the United States, the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education, the Attorney General of the United States, or state and local educational authorities. 
  • Athens Technical College or TCSG officials or lending institutions, in connection with financial aid for which the student has applied or which the student has received, if the information is necessary for such purposes as to: 
    • determine eligibility for the aid; 
    • determine the amount of the aid; 
    • determine the conditions for the aid; or
    • enforce the terms and conditions of the aid. 
  • State and local officials or authorities to which such information is specifically required to be reported or disclosed pursuant to the state statute adopted prior to November 19, 1974, if the allowed reporting or disclosure concerns the juvenile justice system and the system's ability to serve the student whose records are released effectively; or information that is allowed to be reported according to a state statute adopted after 1974, which concerns the juvenile justice system and the system's ability to effectively serve, prior to adjudication, the student whose records are released. Nothing in this paragraph shall prevent the state from further limiting the number of state or local officials who will continue to have access thereunder. 
  • Organizations conducting studies for, or on behalf of, educational agencies or institutions to develop, validate, or administer predictive tests, administer student aid programs and improve instruction, if such studies are conducted in such a manner as will not permit the personal identification of students and their parents by persons other than representatives of such organizations, information will be destroyed within a specific period when no longer needed for the purpose for which it is conducted and enter into a written agreement with the organization. The written agreement will specify the purpose, scope, and duration of the study, the information to be disclosed, the use of personally identifiable information from education records only to meet the purposes of the study and requires the organization to prevent personal identification from anyone other than representatives of the organization with legitimate interests. There is no requirement that TCSG initiates or agrees with the study. 
  • Accrediting organizations in order to conduct their accrediting functions. 
  • Parents of a dependent student, as defined in Section 152 of the Internal Revenue Code of1986. In addition, the parent must provide a copy of their most recent federal income tax return establishing the student's dependency. Full rights under the Act shall be given to either parent unless the institution has been provided with evidence that there is a court order, state statute, or legally binding document relating to such matters as divorce, separation, or custody that expressly revokes those rights. 
  •  In connection with a health or safety emergency, appropriate persons, if the knowledge of such information is necessary, to protect the health or safety of the student or others. 
  • To comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena, provided the college makes a reasonable effort to notify the student of the order or subpoena in advance of compliance. Notification may be prohibited if the college receives a federal grand jury subpoena, any other subpoena which states that the student should not be notified, or an ex parte order from the U.S. Attorney General concerning investigations or prosecutions under 18 U.S.C. § 2332b(g)(5)(B) or an act of domestic or international terrorism as defined in 18 U.S.C. § 2331. When no prior notification is given to the student, TCSG’s Director of Legal Services shall be consulted prior to the release of the record. 
  • To an alleged victim of any crime of violence, as that term is defined in Section 16 of Title 18, United States Code, or a non-forcible sex offense, the final results of any disciplinary proceeding conducted by an institution of post-secondary education against the alleged perpetrator of that crime or offense concerning that crime or offense. TCSG’s Director of Legal Services shall be consulted prior to the release of the record. 
  • According to 38 U.S.C. § 3690 (c), to Veterans Administration Officials. 
  •  Information Athens Technical College has been designated as "directory information" unless a hold has been placed upon release of the information by the student. Even if a student elects to prohibit the release of directory information, TCSG or Athens Technical College may still implement policies requiring the student to wear or present a student ID badge.

The following data is considered to be directory information and may be given to an inquirer, either in person, by mail, or by telephone, and may be otherwise made public: full name of student, address(es), telephone number(s) email address(es), major and field(s) of study, degrees, and awards including nature and date received, dates of attendance, school or division of enrollment, enrollments status, name of the institution last attended, participation in official sports and activities, height and weight of athletic team members, and photographs. 

The policy that such information will generally be made available will be communicated to presently enrolled students through the publication of these guidelines so that an individual student currently enrolled may request that such directory information not be disclosed by filing notification at the Office of Registration and Records of Athens Technical College. Former students who do not want directory information disclosed should make such a request in writing to the Office of Registration and Records.

  • To the court, those records are necessary for legal proceedings when TCSG or a student initiates legal action relevant to the student records. 
  • Athens Technical College may also disclose to any parent or legal guardian of a student under the age of 21 information about a violation of any federal, state, or local law or any rule or policy of the college governing the use or possession of alcohol or a controlled substance if the institution determines that the student has committed a disciplinary violation concerning such use or possession. 
  • To the student or the parent of a student who is not eligible. 
  • In connection with a disciplinary proceeding, if the student is an alleged perpetrator of a crime of violence or non-forcible sex offense and the student has violated TCSG or Athens Technical College’s rules or policies. TCSG and Athens Technical College will not disclose the names of any other students, including victims or witnesses, without their prior written consent.
  • Sex offenders and other individuals are required to register under the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994. Therefore, TCSG or Athens Technical College was provided the information under 42 U.S.C. § 14071. 
  • TCSG or Athens Technical College that has received education records may release the records or information after the removal of all personally identifiable information in the reasonable opinion of TCSG or the college. A code may be attached to the de-identified information that may allow the recipient to match the information provided from the same source; if the method for generating and assigning the code is unreleased, the code is used for no other purpose. Therefore, the code cannot be used to ascertain personally identifiable information.