Law Enforcement on Campus
Protocols for Employees
If College staff or faculty members are approached by any law enforcement official requesting information about a student, please follow these steps. This protocol ensures compliance with federal and state laws while safeguarding the rights and privacy of students.
- Always maintain a calm and respectful demeanor if approached by a law enforcement officer.
- Politely inform the officer that you are required to follow the college’s protocol for such requests.
- Ask for appropriate documentation. (Officer Identification/Badge, Business Card, or other official documentation)
- Do not provide any student information, including enrollment status, class schedules, or personal details, to the officer.
- Remind the officer that all requests for student information must be overseen through the College’s Campus Security Officer in conjunction with the College’s Student Services and the Office of the President.
- Politely inform the officer: “Per college protocol, all requests for student information must be overseen by the College’s Campus Security. I will contact Campus Security.”
- Contact the College’s Security Campus Security Office to meet with the law enforcement officer or provide directions to the security office.
- Campus Security will contact the Office of the College President as soon as possible to inform them of a law enforcement officer’s presence and type of request.
- Campus Security will provide the following information: (Name and Badge Number, Nature of Request, and Documentation if possible)
- Do not share details of any law enforcement visits or requests with unauthorized faculty or staff members and anyone outside of the College’s organization.
- Remind other staff members that student information is protected under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and North Carolina State Law.
- Campus Security will draft an incident report summarizing the interaction with the law enforcement officer.
- As part of the incident report, Staff or Faculty members will provide Campus Security with a brief statement of their interaction with law enforcement.
By following this protocol, employees can ensure they act in accordance with college policy, state and federal laws, and the rights of students.
FOLLOWING FERPA
All college employees are expected to uphold the Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) as a condition of employment. In accordance with FERPA and MCC FERPA Guidelines “no staff or faculty member shall release the contents of a student record to any member of the public without the prior written consent of the student, other than directory information as defined in this policy and information sought pursuant to a court order, lawfully issued subpoena or search warrant, or as otherwise authorized by applicable federal and state laws.”
- student name
- home address
- telephone number
- email addresses
- major/program of study
- dates of attendance
- full- or part-time status
- degrees, honors, and awards received
- alumni records
- anticipated graduation
- student college directory number
- social security number
- ethnicity/race/nationality
- gender
- birthdate
- religious affiliation
- citizenship
- student grades/exam scores Grade point average (GPA)
- test scores (e.g., SAT, GRE, etc.)
- progress reports
- student academic standing
- disciplinary status
- Financial Aid status
