Community College Policies

Admissions

Community colleges have an "open-door" admission policy which guarantees Iowans an opportunity for educational assistance and career development regardless of previous educational attainment. To implement this policy, community colleges offer: assistance in developing skills necessary for success in preparatory career and college parallel programs; supplementary services to disabled and disadvantaged students; and a variety of other support services designed to help students succeed.

Awards/Degree Requirements

Students attending Iowa's Community Colleges may earn a variety of awards/degrees. This document provides an overview of the requirements for the various awards and degrees that are issued by the Community Colleges

State Guidance

2021 Equity, Inclusion and Free Speech for Community Colleges Preliminary Guidance

Student Residency Status

Policy on the residence status of community college students.

Uniform Policy on Student Residency Status

Department of Education Guidance on the Uniform Policy on Residency Status - 2001

Americans with Disabilities Act

Disability law is largely regulated by The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. This Act prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in employment, housing, education, and access to public services. The ADA defines a disability as any of the following:

1. "a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of the individual."
2. "a record of such impairment." or
3. "being regarded as having such an impairment."

The ADA, however, does not list all impairments covered. The ADA further requires that reasonable accommodations be made so as to provide individuals with disabilities equal opportunities. States may pass disability statutes so long as they are consistent with the ADA disabilities.

Links for ADA

U.S. Department of Education - Disability Discrimination

FERPA

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 U.S.C. 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99) is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. The law applies to all schools that receive funds under an applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education.

FERPA gives parents certain rights with respect to their children's education records. These rights transfer to the student when he or she reaches the age of 18 or attends a school beyond the high school level. Students to whom the rights have transferred are "eligible students."

Parents or eligible students have the right to inspect and review the student's education records maintained by the school. Schools are not required to provide copies of records unless, for reasons such as great distance, it is impossible for parents or eligible students to review the records. Schools may charge a fee for copies.

Parents or eligible students have the right to request that a school correct records which they believe to be inaccurate or misleading. If the school decides not to amend the record, the parent or eligible student then has the right to a formal hearing. After the hearing, if the school still decides not to amend the record, the parent or eligible student has the right to place a statement with the record setting forth his or her view about the contested information.

Generally, schools must have written permission from the parent or eligible student in order to release any information from a student's education record. However, FERPA allows schools to disclose those records, without consent, to the following parties or under the following conditions (34 CFR § 99.31):

• School officials with legitimate educational interest
• Other schools to which a student is transferring
• Specified officials for audit or evaluation purposes
• Appropriate parties in connection with financial aid to a student
• Organizations conducting certain studies for or on behalf of the school
• Accrediting organizations
• To comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena
• Appropriate officials in cases of health and safety emergencies
• State and local authorities, within a juvenile justice system, pursuant to specific State law

Schools may disclose, without consent, "directory" information such as a student's name, address, telephone number, date and place of birth, honors and awards, and dates of attendance. However, schools must tell parents and eligible students about directory information and allow parents and eligible students a reasonable amount of time to request that the school not disclose directory information about them. Schools must notify parents and eligible students annually of their rights under FERPA. The actual means of notification (special letter, inclusion in a Parent Teacher Association bulletin, student handbook, or newspaper article) is left to the discretion of each school.

U.S. Department of Education - Family Educational Rights and Privacy