Why is RCC unable to tell me anything about my “student”?

RCC does not make those rules – according to federal law, college students, age 18 or over, have the right to the privacy of all their education records including grades, financial information, and disciplinary records.  Under this law, parents who want to gain access to a student’s records can do so only if the student signs a FERPA Consent Form – Student Consent for Release of Records form.  NOTE:  The student will need to sign this form and they can do that by visiting the Office of Admissions and Records.  By signing that form, it is placed on record that the student gives the college permission for parents to have access to the student’s college information.

Unless a student makes other arrangements with us, we do not contact parents about his or her progress at college.  It is the responsibility of the student to communicate with the parent and tell how things are going. The student may talk to an RCC staff person in Admissions or Counseling about other options available for release of information to their parents.

How can I get a copy of my student’s grades?

The easiest and fastest way to obtain information about your child’s grades or records is for the student to provide it for you.  Students can look up information by logging in Online at the Student’s Toolbox and either print it off or email a copy to you.   

Since I ‘m paying for my child’s education, why can’t I get a copy of his/her records?

FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) requires that access to a college student’s records must be released by approval of the student.  However, parents can receive information about their student if they show proof that the student is financially dependent for IRS purposes.  To do so, submit a copy of your tax records that show dependent status, to the registration office. Please know that our staff may not be able to grant your request immediately as they are required to have the Registrar’s permission prior to releasing student records to anyone other than the student.

How can I get verification of my student’s enrollment and grade point average for my insurance company?

A verification form may be obtained through the Admissions and Registration Office.  The form requires the student’s signature, and then it may be mailed to the college or dropped off at the office to be processed.   

How do I get a message to my student?

For emergencies only, RCC admissions number, 804-333-6740 for the Warsaw Campus and 804-758-6740 for the Glenns Campus, is the first place to call if you need to contact your student. Although we cannot guarantee we can reach your student, we do make the effort to do so. If the student is in class, as per his or her schedule, we will deliver the message to the instructor for disbursement. We will return a message to parents to let them know if we could successfully complete delivery. In case of extreme emergency, the Dean’s office will be alerted and necessary steps taken to locate your student on campus.