Blinn College seeks to provide equal education without regard to race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, disability, or any other constitutionally or statutorily impermissible reason. This policy extends to all programs and activities supported by the college.

Privacy Rights of Students

Annual Notice to Students

Annually, Blinn College informs students of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974. This act was designed to protect the privacy of educational records, to establish the rights of students to inspect and review their educational records, and to provide guidelines for the correction of inaccurate or misleading data through informal and formal hearings. Students also have the right to file complaints concerning the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) with the U. S. Office of Education concerning alleged failures by the institution to comply with the Act. Complaints should be filed with the Vice President Student Services.

Questions concerning the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act may be referred to the Office of Admissions and Records.

Disclosure of Student Records

In general, no personal information from a student's educational records will be disclosed without written consent from the student. Two exceptions may, however, be made:

(1) directory information will be released unless the student requests that it not be released, as explained in the paragraph below

(2) records may be disclosed to parents of students who are dependents as defined by Internal Revenue code 1954, Section 152.

Public Notice Designating Directory Information

Blinn College hereby designates the following categories of student information as public or " Directory Information". Such information may be disclosed by the institution:

Category I: Name, classification, major field of study, home address, local residence, local telephone number.

Category II: Previous institutions attended, dates of attendance, awards, honors (including Dean's and President's Lists), degree(s) conferred [including dates], past and present participation in officially recognized sports and activities, physical factors [height and weight of athletes], date and place of birth.

Currently enrolled students may withhold disclosure of either or both categories of information under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974. To withhold disclosures, written notification must be received in the Office of Admission and Records on the Brenham Campus or Bryan Campus within twelve (12) calendar days from the first day of registration for each long term or four (4) days for summer terms. Forms requesting the withholding of Directory Information are available in the offices listed above. Blinn College assumes that failure on the part of any student to specifically request withholding of "Directory Information" indicates individual approval for disclosure.

Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Statement

Blinn College affirms its policy of Equal Employment Opportunity to all staff members, recruitment resources, and officials of affiliated bodies with the College.

Recruitment, hiring, promotions, training, lay off, termination, rate of pay and other forms of compensation shall be administered without regard to sex, race, color, gender, marital status, religion, age, national origin, disability or veteran's status.

It is the college's policy (Title VI Affirmative Action Plan, July 1, 1990) to provide Equal Employment Opportunity in full compliance with the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended, the Rehabilitation Act of 1974 (Section 503, 504), the Vietnam Era Veterans Assistance Act of 1974, Texas Statues 6252-14-V.A.T.S. and 6252-16-V.A.T.S., and Executive Orders 11246 and 11758 and the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination. The college shall investigate all allegations of such harassment and shall take appropriate disciplinary action against employees, officials, vendors, and contractors found to engage in such unlawful behavior.