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Student Services

Student Information & Policies: Data Privacy

Minnesota West Community & Technical College maintains records about you in various places within the institution. For example, the admission office maintains records about you, as does the registrar.

Under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act (MGDPA) and the Family and Educational Rights Privacy Act (FERPA), you have certain rights concerning the records which Minnesota West maintains.

Links to:                         
Data Privacy Policy

Parental Access to Student Records

Requesting Public Data       

Consent Forms:
Authorization to Release Student Information

Authorization to Withhold Directory Information

As a student you have the right to:

  • Inspect and review educational records maintained about you.

  • Request an amendment to records about you for the purpose of correcting inaccurate, incomplete or misleading records.

  • Request a hearing regarding your request if Minnesota West does not make the changes you desire.

  • Place a written statement in your records explaining your disagreement with Minnesota West, if Minnesota West does not amend records after the hearing.

  • Consent to disclosures of information that identifies you personally except to the extent that such disclosures are allowed without your consent under state and federal law.

  • File a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education if the College fails to comply with FERPA regulations.


You may contact the office that administers FERPA at:

Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202-4605

Request for Non-Disclosure

Directory information can be released without authorization unless you restrict release of the information by contacting the Registration & Records Office in writing or completing the Authorization to Withhold Directory Information.

To prevent printing of your address and telephone number in the Campus Directory, you must file this request in the Registration & Records Office prior to the deadline at the beginning of each fall semester. If you choose to restrict the release of your address and phone number, it will not appear in the graduation program.

Note: Students who restrict directory information should be aware that such restriction remains in effect until they formally notify the Registration & Records Office in writing to remove it, even after they graduate or cease enrollment. Some students have experienced considerable inconvenience by restricting their directory information as Minnesota West is unable to verify degrees earned, dates of attendance, or enrollment status to any third parties (including future employers) while the restriction is in effect.

Directory Information

Minnesota West has designated the following as directory information:

  1. Name

  2. Address

  3. Telephone number

  4. Major field of study

  5. Participation in officially-recognized activities and sports - including height and weight of athletes

  6. Classification (freshman, sophomore)

  7. Enrollment status

  8. Dates of attendance or graduation

  9. Degrees, honors, awards and scholarships received

Limited Directory Information
Not withstanding any other provision of this policy, the following information is defined as Libited Directory Data for purposes of sharing with LeadMN so the association can communicate with their members:

1.  Student name
2.  Email address
3.  Student change code
4.  Star ID
5.  Tech ID

Star ID and Tech ID numbers are defined as Limited Directory Data for enterprise technology related purposes internal to the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system that are approved by System Office IT, including, but not limited to, inclusion of email address and Star ID numbers in a directory accessible to Minnesota State students and employees. Student contact information, including personal email address, will be available to the Minnesota West Foundation


Student contact information, including personal email address and Star ID, will be available to third party vendors that provide services for the college.

Release of Student Information

Students may authorize Minnesota West to release private information to individuals of their choosing by completing the Authorization to Release Student Information form. The form needs to be submitted to the Registration & Records Office in person with a valid photo identification. This consent expires one year after the date the form is signed.

Should you have questions concerning your rights, contact:
Katie Heronimus, FERPA Coordinator
507-372-3455
katie.heronimus@mnwest.edu