Registration
Students must be registered and have their tuition and fees paid for all courses they are attending. No student shall be permitted to attend a class without registering, regardless of whether that class is being taken for credit, audit or continuing education units (CEU).
Panther Access Web System (PAWS) is the online portal that enables enrolled students at Florida Tech to register for classes, make schedule changes, and access and print their academic and personal information. Students may view and print course descriptions, semester class schedules, address and telephone information, all grades to date and a financial account summary by term, in addition to making payments. PAWS can be found via the Florida Tech home page at www.fit.edu. Obtaining access to student-specific information online requires a TRACKS account username and password assigned to students by the institution.
Minimum Degree Requirements
Degree programs at Florida Tech use the semester credit hour unit. All programs offered at the university meet or exceed the minimum accreditation requirement of 60 successfully completed credit hours for the associate degree; 120 successfully completed credit hours for the bachelor’s degree; 18 successfully completed credits for minors; 12 successfully completed credits for certificates; and 30 successfully completed credit hours for master’s and specialist degree programs. Doctoral programs will require a minimum of 42 successfully completed credit hours beyond the master’s degree.
Credit Hour Defined
Florida Tech defines one hour of classroom time as 50 minutes, in accordance with commonly accepted practice in higher education and in a reasonable approximation of the Carnegie unit for contact time.
When courses are developed using new delivery models such as distance, online, hybrid and low residency, they are created by campus faculty or appropriate academically qualified subject matter experts and submitted to the academic unit for review and endorsement. Academic units are responsible for identifying the amount of work represented in intended learning outcomes established for the course.
Student engagement may include online lectures, seminars, threaded discussions, video exercises, web-based laboratories and/or additional structured learning activities and independent work in lieu of class time. Review and approval is the responsibility of the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee (UGCC) or Graduate Council (GC) to ensure the workload and engagement required of the student are equivalent to standard credit hours. Conformity with the policy is also reinforced in a review of course content by the responsible academic unit.
The following are guidelines for the implementation of Florida Tech’s credit hour policy.
Traditional Lecture Courses: A traditional one lecture credit hour is defined as a 50-minute in-class period for about 15 sessions over an academic semester (about 750 minutes), and a minimum of 100-minute combined out-of-class assignment/preparation period per session (about 1,500 minutes), for a total of 2,250 minutes of engaged learning time.
Hybrid or Online Courses: Credit hours associated with these organizational types of courses should be equivalent to credit hours for courses delivered traditionally. As stated above, academic units proposing these courses are responsible for identifying the amount of work represented in intended learning outcomes established for the course. Equivalency of the workload and engagement required of the student to standard credit hours will be determined by the UGCC or the Graduate Council.
Laboratory: A traditional one laboratory credit hour is defined as a 75- to 150-minute in-laboratory period for at least 12 sessions over an academic semester or 900 to 1,800 minutes.
Fieldwork/Practicum: One credit hour of fieldwork/practicum translates to 200 to 335 minutes for 15 sessions over an academic semester.
Internship: A traditional one internship credit hour is defined as 200 minutes of on-site or site-related activity per week for 15 weeks.
Applied Music/Large Ensembles/Chamber and Specialty Ensembles: One credit hour of ensemble/chamber work is equivalent to approximately three hours of instruction and a minimum of three hours of practice each week, on average, for 15 weeks. One half-hour credit of applied music instruction is defined as approximately one hour of instruction and a minimum of three hours of practice each week, on average, for 14 weeks.
Supervised Research Experience/Undergraduate Research: Supervised research is designated as one credit or three credits only. Traditional one-credit research experience is defined as 180 to 240 minutes per week of research-related activity. A traditional three-credit experience is defined as 540 to 720 minutes per week of research-related activity, plus an end-of-the-semester project deliverable.
Variable credit courses: Courses available for variable credit must meet Florida Tech’s credit hour policy requirements and must clearly demonstrate the amount of student work for each credit hour assigned.
Thesis/Dissertation: A one-credit thesis/dissertation experience is defined as a minimum of 180 minutes per week of scholarly activity.
Definition of Full Time/Part-Time
Melbourne Campus and Education Centers
The following credit hour standards are used to determine a Melbourne campus student’s enrollment status. See “Veterans Accounts and Benefits” under Financial Overview for credit hour standards used for certification of students receiving veterans education benefits.
STATUS |
UNDERGRADUATE |
GRADUATE |
Full time |
12 or more |
9 or more |
3/4 time |
9 - 11.5 |
6 - 8.5 |
1/2 time |
6 - 8.5 |
4.5 - 5.5 |
Less than 1/2 time |
< 6 |
< 4.5 |
Florida Tech Online
The following credit hour standards are used to determine a Florida Tech Online student’s enrollment status. Florida Tech Online undergraduate students are strongly encouraged to limit their enrollment to two courses per 8-week term. See “Veterans Accounts and Benefits” under Financial Overview for credit hour standards used for certification of students receiving veterans education benefits.
STATUS |
UNDERGRADUATE |
GRADUATE |
Full time |
6 or more |
6 or more |
3/4 time |
4.5 - 5.5 |
4.5 - 5.5 |
1/2 time |
3 - 4 |
3 - 4 |
Less than 1/2 time |
< 3 |
< 3 |
English Language Proficiency
All Florida Tech programs are taught in English. English language proficiency is required of all students whose home language is not English and who are taking academic courses at Florida Tech. Students may apply and be admitted into the university prior to the submission of proof of English proficiency. However, acceptable proof of English Proficiency must be submitted before the issuance of immigration documents and/or enrollment. This requirement applies to all modalities of degree and certificate programs.
Demonstrating English Proficiency
Students whose home language is not English are considered to have demonstrated English language proficiency if they have accomplished any of the following:
1. Passed an English test no more than two years before attendance at Florida Tech:
- an Internet-based TOEFL (standard, home and paper) with an earned score of at least 79; or
- a TOEFL Essentials with an earned score of at least 9.0; or
- an IELTS with an earned score of at least 6.0; or
- a PTE Academic with an earned score of at least 58; or
- a Cambridge English: Advanced with an earned score of at least 180 (Grade of C); or
- a Duolingo English Test with an earned score of at least 100; or
- a China National Higher Education Entrance Examination (Gaokao) English portion with an earned score of at least 120/150 (96/120).
2. Earned an official score of four or higher on an English examination:
- the International Baccalaureate Higher Level Language A examination in English, or
- the College Board Advanced Placement examination in English Language and Composition.
3. Successfully completed an English language program:
- ELS English for Academic Purposes level 112; or
- Embassy English level B2; or
- International Education Exchange Association PEAP level 6; or
- Kaplan International English level Higher Intermediate; or
- Open Hearts Language Academy level Elite; or
- UCF English Language Institute level 8 with a grade of B or better.
4. Studied at an institution in the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, Anglophone Canada, Anglophone Caribbean, Anglophone Africa, or a secondary school overseas where English is the primary language of instruction,
- attending for three consecutive years and graduating from an accredited high school; or
- completing a total of 20 semester credit hours at an accredited university or college, including three semester credit hours of English that would qualify as transfer credit for Florida Tech’s COM 1101 Composition and Rhetoric; or
- earning a bachelor’s or higher degree from an accredited university or college.
Language Requirements for Flight Students
Flight students who are not native English language speakers will be required to meet additional English language proficiency requirements as required by the FAA.
Flight students whose home language is not English are required to receive a minimum score of 4 on the ICAO Test of English Language Proficiency prior to beginning flight training. This test will be administered in-person by FIT Aviation, LLC. Outside exams will not be accepted.
Any student that scores below a level 4 will be required to complete additional aviation English language instruction, and retest to attain a level 4 on the test, before being permitted to commence flight training. The Chief Instructor, or their designee, has the authority to waive this testing requirement. All waivers require demonstrable language ability equal to or greater than ICAO level 4.
FIT Aviation may cease a student’s flight training and require the student to obtain additional English language instruction if they fail to demonstrate an ability to read, speak, write, and understand the English language, regardless of test score.
ESL Bridge Program
Both undergraduate and graduate students whose home language is not English with scores in the following ranges are invited to enroll in the ESL Bridge Program:
- Internet-Based TOEFL (iBT): 61–78
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS): 5.5
- Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic): 51–57
- Cambridge English Advanced: 169–179
- Duolingo English Test: 90
- Embassy English: Level B1
- China National Higher Education Entrance Examination (Gaokao) English portion: 105/150 (84/120)
The ESL Bridge Program combines in-person classes required to earn a degree along with English instruction taught by Florida Tech faculty. All students are full-time, requiring enrollment in at least 12 credit hours of classes per semester.
Students who score below the ranges specified above may enroll in lower-level English training courses at the ELS Language Center on campus.
Language Requirements for Graduate Assistantships
International students are eligible for graduate assistantships in some academic units. In addition to specific academic unit requirements for service as a graduate assistant, any student whose home language is not English must pass an English proficiency examination with a minimum score as listed in the table below. Students must also pass the International Teaching Assistant Speaking Assessment (ITASA) to serve as a graduate teaching assistant.
A score of at least one of the following must be submitted for a teaching assistantship:
- Internet-based TOEFL (iBT): 100
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS): 7.0
- Florida Tech Institutional TOEFL (paper-based): 600
- Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic): 70
- Cambridge English Advanced: 193 (Grade of B)
- Duolingo English Test: 120
- Embassy English: Level C1
A score of at least one of the following must be submitted for a research assistantship:
- Internet-based TOEFL (iBT): 79
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS): 6.0
- Florida Tech Institutional TOEFL (paper-based): 550
- Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic): 58
- Cambridge English Advanced: 180 (Grade of C)
- Duolingo English Test: 100
- Embassy English: Level B2
Student Advising
Academic advising is an ongoing process that facilitates the academic, social and preprofessional development of students at Florida Tech. Advisors help students clarify academic, professional and personal goals, and provide support to encourage the realization of these goals. Advisors provide timely and accurate information, referrals and advice regarding a wide range of matters, with the intention of promoting responsible decision-making. Advisors assist students with academic planning, course selection and registration, and monitor students’ progress on an ongoing basis. Advisors also increase students’ awareness of clubs and organizations, extracurricular activities and resources that will contribute to their development and adaptation to college life.
An advisor in the first-year experience (FYE) office serves as the primary advisor for all new full-time on-campus students who enter the university with less than 30 earned credit hours. A student who enters with 0-29 credit hours works with an FYE advisor for two consecutive semesters. After working with an FYE advisor, the student transitions to an appointed faculty advisor in the academic department.
New students who enter the university with more than 29 earned credit hours proceed directly to advisement in the academic department where a faculty member serves as the primary advisor. The academic success advisor in the FYE office serves as the secondary advisor and can address general questions and concerns.
Graduate students are advised by faculty in their academic department.
Florida Tech Online students are advised by the online coordinator or academic program chair of their major.
Education center students should contact their program chair or the site director for advising.
Transcripts
All courses taken at Florida Tech are listed in chronological order on the student’s academic transcript. A request for a transcript may be made through the National Student Clearinghouse (www.studentclearinghouse.org). Students with holds on their accounts will not be able to receive transcripts until the holds are remedied.
Grade Point Average (GPA)
A student’s academic standing is expressed by the cumulative GPA, determined by dividing the total number of grade points earned at Florida Tech by the total number of credit hours attempted. The number of grade points for each course is the product of the credit hours for the course, and A = 4, B = 3, C = 2, D = 1, F = 0. Plus and minus grades (e.g., B+) are not used at Florida Tech. The GPA is truncated at three digits. In the case of multiple degrees earned as a graduate student, the transcript reports both an overall GPA for all courses taken and the program GPA based on courses that apply to each degree.
Undergraduate and graduate GPAs are never combined. An undergraduate student who takes a graduate course and wishes it to be included on their undergraduate transcript must submit a written request to the registrar’s office. Once the graduate course has been included on the undergraduate transcript it cannot be used toward fulfillment of the requirements of any graduate degree, except in the case of students participating in an accelerated master’s program.
Notification of Grades
At the end of each semester (or 8-week term for Florida Tech Online students), the registrar’s office notifies enrolled students of grades earned by posting them to their online student record. These grades become a part of the official student permanent record and are not subject to change, except on authorization from the instructor, academic unit head and respective dean, and then only when an incomplete (I) grade was received and the required work completed, or there is tangible evidence the grade was erroneously recorded.
Students have through the first four weeks of the following academic term to request an error in grading be corrected. Completing academic work after the course has ended is only permissible if the student received an incomplete (I) grade and cannot be used to change any other grade assigned. Grades cannot be changed once a student has graduated. See the Incomplete Work policy below for more information.
Melbourne Campus
During the middle of the semester, Melbourne campus students not making satisfactory progress in 1000- and 2000-level courses are notified of their status.
Florida Tech Online
The learning management systems (LMS) makes weekly notifications to students when they have not shown satisfactory progress in an assignment.
Incomplete Work
An Incomplete (I) is given when a course cannot be completed because of circumstances beyond the student’s control. The I indicates the coursework is qualitatively satisfactory and there is a reasonable expectancy that completion of the remaining work would result in a passing grade. The instructor must provide a statement of the work to be completed to the head of the academic unit. The student must complete the work at the earliest possible time but before the end of the sixth week of the following semester (third week of the following term for Florida Tech Online), unless an earlier deadline is established at the time the I is recorded and the student is notified of this fact. Students who are given an Incomplete grade in the Spring semester (Spring 2 term for Florida Tech Online) must complete the work at the earliest possible time but before the end of the sixth week of the Fall semester (third week of the Fall 1 term for Florida Tech Online). A waiver of the time limitation requires the written permission of the appropriate dean. The instructor is required to grade the course by the beginning of the seventh week of the semester (the fourth week of the term for Florida Tech Online).
College of Aeronautics flight courses (AVF) are exempt from the six-week time limit. Flight courses still carrying an I after one calendar year will automatically become an F unless a waiver stating a satisfactory completion date signed by the director of FIT Aviation and approved by the dean of the college has been received by the registrar’s office.
Petition to Graduate
A student planning to receive any degree must petition to graduate no later than the date shown in the academic calendar. Students petitioning after the due date are subject to a late fee and may not be able to graduate as planned because of insufficient time to verify completion of requirements.
Drop/Withdrawal Policy
Students are responsible for maintaining written evidence of all drops/withdrawals. Telephone and email drops/withdrawals will not be accepted. Failure to attend classes or verbal notification to instructors does not constitute an official drop or withdrawal. Students who drop or withdraw without filing the proper form will receive a failing grade of F.
Melbourne Campus, ABA Online and Education Center Students
To add or drop a course, or withdraw from the university, a student must complete a Change in Registration Status form or request the action through PAWS, when available.
When a Melbourne campus or education center student drops a course during the first eight days of class (except in a summer term) the course will not appear on the permanent academic record.
After this date, a W will appear on the permanent record for each dropped course. The W is not used in the computation of the semester and cumulative grade point average. The last day to drop a course without receiving a failing grade is published in the academic calendar.
Florida Tech Online Students
Students must withdraw through PAWS. Students can drop a course through the end of the first week of classes without receiving a grade of W. From the end of the first week through the end of the sixth week, a grade of W will be assigned. That grade will be reflected on their transcript, but not calculated into a grade point average. After week six, students will receive the grade earned in the class. To initiate a withdrawal from an online class, students must log into PAWS.
If a Florida Tech Online undergraduate student withdraws from ASC 1006 Mastering eLearning , a graded degree requirement for all Florida Tech Online undergraduate degree programs, they will be required to register for it the next term they take courses. After three course withdrawals, a student will be placed in the lowest level mathematics and communication courses, usually determined by the diagnostic assessments from ASC 1006 .
Readmission Policy
A student must apply for readmission if they have been away from the university for two years, or four or more consecutive full-length semesters (12 or more 8-week terms for Florida Tech Online students and excluding Melbourne campus and education center summer terms) or who has attended another institution during an absence from the university. If readmission is approved, the degree requirements in place at the time of readmission, or later with academic approval, must be met. A student is not considered absent from the university during a period of study at another institution if a Request to Study at Another Institution form was submitted and approved before enrollment for the other institution’s courses. A student who has been away from the university for less than four semesters (12 8-week terms for Florida Tech Online students) and who has not attended any other college or university may register for class without filing an application for readmission.
A student who leaves the university for military service will be readmitted with the same academic status they had when last in attendance at Florida Tech, if the student’s length of absence from the institution has not exceeded five years.
For students attending under the Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC), breaks-in-attendance of two or fewer years will not invalidate the Student Agreement, nor will the student’s activity be defined by taking courses exclusively at the home college.
Students seeking reinstatement following academic dismissal should refer to the section on “Probation and Dismissal”.
Course Numbers Defined
A Florida Tech course number consists of three subject code letters followed by a four-digit number. Course numbers beginning with 0 are developmental in nature and do not count toward a degree. Course numbers beginning with 1, 2, 3 and 4 indicate undergraduate courses, and those beginning with 5 and 6 indicate graduate courses. Graduate students may take 3000- and 4000-level courses, if permitted by graduate policy.
Courses listed under more than one prefix or listed as interchangeable (i.e., BIO 2332 Primer for Biomath and MTH 2332 Primer for Biomath ; MTH 1001 Calculus 1 and MTH 1010 Honors Calculus 1 ) may not be repeated for credit under the alternate prefix or interchangeable course name/number.
Course Cancellation/Schedule Changes
The university reserves the right to cancel classes with insufficient enrollment, to close a class when the enrollment limit in that class is reached and to make necessary schedule changes, including changes in time, days, credit, instructor, or modality.
Course Substitution
If students have earned credit for a course at another institution or taken a different course at Florida Tech, and they believe the course could meet a degree requirement, you may request a course substitution. Course substitutions must have the written approval of the student’s academic program chair or academic advisor and academic unit head and must meet the following conditions:
- A course used as substitution should be within one level (higher or lower) of the course to be substituted.
- The substitution should have similar content to the course being replaced.
- Substitutions should be submitted as early as possible to facilitate accurate graduation audits.
- Departments offering the course to be substituted should be consulted as appropriate.
- Courses used as substitutions do not have to carry the same number of semester credit hours as the course they are replacing nor do they affect the total credit hours needed for the student’s degree program.
- Substitutions must be generated by the appropriate advisor or student coordinator.
Substitutions are recorded on the student’s program plan and used to audit degree requirements. A copy of the approved course substitution is maintained in the student’s file.
Continuing Education
A continuing education (CE) student is defined as one who is not seeking a degree or certificate from Florida Tech. CE students will customarily enroll for courses on the basis of receiving continuing education units (CEUs), rather than graduate or undergraduate credit. The CEU is a nationally recognized unit that indicates successful participation in a qualified program of continuing education. It is defined as 10 contact hours of participation in an organized educational experience under responsible sponsorship, capable direction and qualified instruction.
Students enrolled for CEUs in courses that are being offered for academic credit are required to do all homework, outside reading assignments, term papers or special assignments and to attend at least 90 percent of the class sessions, but they are not required to take midterm or final examinations.
In some situations, the CE student may want or need to receive credit rather than CEUs, and this alternative is allowable. Students enrolled for credit, whether degree-seeking or not, must take all examinations in addition to completing all course assignments. Students may switch from CEU to credit or vice versa, any time before the end of the add/drop period.
A CE student may not enroll in any course, either for credit or for CEUs, without the approval of their advisor and head of the academic unit offering the course. This approval will be based on a review of the student’s previous preparation and qualifications, an assessment that the student is capable of completing all course assignments (homework, reading, term papers, etc.) and may also take into consideration the effect of enrollment of CE students on the course and/or academic program. Such approval will be sought and given on a course-by-course basis and may be withheld at the academic unit head’s discretion.
A CE student may seek admission to a degree program through the normal admission process. If a CE student subsequently decides to pursue either an undergraduate or graduate degree at Florida Tech and is accepted into that degree program, a maximum of 12 semester credit hours earned as a CE student may be applied toward the degree, provided the coursework is academically appropriate.
Directed Study
Melbourne Campus or Education Centers
Directed study is a means of allowing a student to register for a course during a semester when it is not being taught as a standard class section. To enroll in a directed study course, a Request for Directed Study Course form must be submitted. Approval is at the discretion of the academic unit head or program chair responsible for the course, and normally requires evidence of a compelling need by the student. The tuition rate for a directed-study course is the standard undergraduate or graduate rate, plus an additional directed-study fee.
Auditing Classes
Melbourne Campus
Certain classes can be audited, completing of a course of study for which no assessment performance or grade is awarded. Students may audit a course with the permission of their academic advisor and payment of an audit fee. The audit fee is waived for full-time undergraduate students. An auditor does not receive a grade; an AU is recorded on the transcript in place of the grade if the auditor has maintained a satisfactory course attendance (75 percent class attendance) and completed the appropriate assignments. If the student does not meet requirements, a final grade of F may be awarded. No changes in registration from credit to audit or from audit to credit will be permitted after the add/drop period. Students must register for an audit by manual registration.
Auditing classes is not available to Florida Tech Online students.
Senior Citizen Program
The senior citizen program allows individuals age 65 and over to enroll in courses for credit or audit without charge. Participation in this program is restricted to individuals who are seriously committed to learning and want to take courses on Melbourne campus.
A prospective student wishing to enroll in the senior citizen program must apply for admission as a nondegree-seeking student and be admitted. All records of any prior postsecondary coursework must accompany the application. Copies of transcripts are acceptable in lieu of official transcripts. If no previous postsecondary coursework was completed, proof of high school graduation is required.
A brief statement of “Qualifications through Life Experience” may be submitted with the application. A statement of educational goals and a determination by the appropriate admission office (undergraduate or graduate) that the applicant’s educational and life experience history supports a reasonable expectation of successful accomplishment of those goals are necessary.
Enrollment is permitted based on space availability.
Annual Notification of Student Rights (FERPA)
Florida Institute of Technology complies with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). The Act is as follows:
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords eligible students certain rights with respect to their education records. (An “eligible student” under FERPA is a student who is 18 years of age or older or who is attending a postsecondary institution.) These rights include:
The right to inspect and review their own education records. An eligible student has the right to inspect and review their education records within 45 days of the day the university receives a request for access. Students should submit to the registrar, dean, head of the academic unit or another appropriate official, written requests that identify the record(s) they wish to inspect. The university official will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. If the records are not maintained by the university official to whom the request was submitted, that official shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be made.
The right to request amendment of the education record. An eligible student has the right to seek amendment of their education records the student believes are inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy rights under FERPA.
- A student who wishes to ask the university to amend a record should write the university official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record the student wants changed and specify why it should be changed.
- The university will, within a reasonable time after receiving the request, decide whether to amend the record as requested.
- If the university decides not to amend the record as requested, the university will notify the student in writing of the decision and the student’s right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information will be provided to the student when notified of the right to a hearing.
The right to provide written consent before personally identifiable information is disclosed, except when FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. An eligible student has the right to provide written consent to the disclosure of personally identifiable information (PII) contained in the student’s educational records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.
The university may, and from time to time does disclose education records without a student’s prior written consent when authorized by FERPA, including to university officials whom the university has determined to have legitimate educational interests. Florida Tech defines “university officials” and “legitimate educational interests” as follows:
- “University officials” include (a) persons employed by Florida Tech in an administrative, supervisory, academic, research, or support staff position (including but not limited to law enforcement unit personnel, attorneys, counselors, and health staff); (b) persons serving on the board of trustees; or (c) persons (including students) serving on an official university committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee.
- A university official also may include a volunteer, contractor, consultant or other party outside of Florida Tech (i) who performs an institutional service or function for which the university would otherwise use its own employees, (ii) who is under the direct control of the university with respect to the use and maintenance of education records, such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent or a student volunteering to assist another university official in performing his or her tasks, and (iii) who is subject to the obligation not to disclose PII from any education record without the prior written consent of the student.
- “Legitimate educational interests” include performing a task or engaging in an activity related to (i) one’s regular duties or professional responsibilities, (ii) a student’s education, (iii) the discipline of a student, (iv) a service to or benefit for a student, (v) measures to support student success, and (vi) the safety and security of the campus.
- Upon request, the university will also disclose education records without consent to officials of another school in which a student seeks or intends to enroll.
The right to file a complaint. An eligible student has the right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by Florida Tech to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the office that administers FERPA is:
Family Compliance Office U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Ave., SW
Washington, DC 20202-4605.
When does FERPA permit disclosure of personally identifiable information (PII) without student consent?
FERPA permits the disclosure of PII from students’ education records, without the consent of the student, if the disclosure meets certain conditions found in §99.31 of the FERPA regulations. Except for disclosures to university officials (as defined above), disclosures related to some judicial orders or lawfully issued subpoenas, disclosures of directory information, and disclosures to the student, §99.32 of FERPA regulations requires the institution to record the disclosure. Eligible students have a right to inspect and review the record of disclosures.
The university may disclose PII from the education records without obtaining the prior written consent of an eligible student —
- To other university officials whom the university has determined to have legitimate educational interests, as described above under paragraph 3. This includes contractors, consultants, volunteers, or other parties to whom the university has outsourced institutional services or functions, provided that certain conditions are met. (§99.31(a)(1))
- To officials of another university where the student seeks or intends to enroll, or where the student is already enrolled if the disclosure is for purposes related to the student’s enrollment or transfer, subject to the requirements of §99.34. (§99.31(a)(2))
- To authorized representatives of the U. S. Comptroller General, the U. S. Attorney General, the U.S. Secretary of Education, or State and local educational authorities, such as a State postsecondary authority that is responsible for supervising the university’s State-supported education programs. Disclosures under this provision may be made, subject to the requirements of §99.35, in connection with an audit or evaluation of Federal- or State-supported education programs, or for the enforcement of or compliance with Federal legal requirements that relate to those programs. These entities may make further disclosures of PII to outside entities that are designated by them as their authorized representatives to conduct any audit, evaluation, or enforcement or compliance activity on their behalf. (§§99.31(a)(3) and 99.35)
- In connection with financial aid for which the student has applied or which the student has received, if the information is necessary to determine eligibility for the aid, determine the amount of the aid, determine the conditions of the aid, or enforce the terms and conditions of the aid. (§99.31(a)(4))
- To certain state and local officials or authorities when authorized by state statute in certain cases. (§99.31(a)(5))
- To organizations conducting studies for, or on behalf of, the university, in order to: (a) develop, validate, or administer predictive tests; (b) administer student aid programs; or (c) improve instruction. (§99.31(a)(6))
- To accrediting organizations to carry out their accrediting functions. (§99.31(a)(7))
- To parents of an eligible student if the student is a dependent for IRS tax purposes. (§99.31(a)(8))
- To comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena. (§99.31(a)(9))
- To appropriate officials in connection with a health or safety emergency, subject to §99.36. (§99.31(a)(10))
- When it is information the university has designated as “directory information” under §99.37. (§99.31(a)(11))
- To a victim of an alleged perpetrator of a crime of violence or a non-forcible sex offense, subject to the requirements of §99.39. The disclosure may only include the final results of the disciplinary proceeding with respect to that alleged crime or offense, regardless of the finding. (§99.31(a)(13))
- To the general public, the final results of a disciplinary proceeding, subject to the requirements of §99.39, if the university determines the student is an alleged perpetrator of a crime of violence or non-forcible sex offense and the student has committed a violation of the university’s rules or policies with respect to the allegation made against him or her. (§99.31(a)(14))
- To parents of a student regarding the student’s violation of any Federal, State, or local law, or of any rule or policy of the university, governing the use or possession of alcohol or a controlled substance if the university determines the student committed a disciplinary violation and the student is under the age of 21. (§99.31(a)(15))
- The disclosure concerns sex offenders and other individuals required to register under section 17010 of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994.
Directory Information
Institutions may disclose a student’s directory without their consent, and without violating FERPA if the student has not restricted their personal information. Florida Tech considers the following to be directory information:
- Student name
- Address
- telephone number
- date and place of birth
- major field(s) of study
- email address
- participation in officially recognized activities and sports
- weight and height of athletic team members
- dates of attendance
- part-time or full-time status
- degrees and awards/ honors received
- most recent educational institution attended other than Florida Tech
The release of student directory information is generally not done at Florida Tech without the expressed, written consent of the student, except as noted in item #3 above.
Request to Restrict Directory Information
Students may prevent the release of directory information by completing a Request to Prevent Disclosure of Directory Information form available online and from the Office of the Registrar. By law, however, a student cannot prevent the release of directory information to the U.S. military for recruiting purposes. Student consent is required for the release of personally identifiable information such as semester grades, academic record, current academic standing, class schedules and Social Security/student number.
The Solomon Amendment
Solomon Amendment is a federal law that allows military recruiters to access some address, biographical and academic program information on students age 17 and older who have not filed any FERPA restrictions.
The Department of Education has determined the Solomon Amendment supersedes most elements of FERPA. An institution is therefore obligated to release data included in the list of “student recruiting information,” which may or may not match our FERPA directory information list.
Definition - “Student Recruitment Information” or “Solomon Information”
- Name
- Address
- Date and place of birth
- Telephone number
- Email address
- Level of education, or class standing
- Academic major
The Solomon Amendment established guidelines for the release of directory information to the United States military for recruiting purposes. This Congressional act allows release of the following directory information without student consent to military recruiters for present and previously enrolled students at least 17 years of age: student name, address, date and place of birth, telephone number, level of education, major field(s) of study, degrees received and the educational institution in which the student was most recently enrolled.
Student Right to Know
Florida Institute of Technology is in compliance with the Student Right to Know Act of 1990, the Campus Awareness and Campus Security Act of 1990, as amended (Clery Act).
The Office of Security keeps statistics on compliance with the act. These statistics are updated annually and can be found at https://www.fit.edu/security/-crime-awareness-and-clery-act/. They are also available upon request to other interested parties.
Information on Florida Tech’s six-year graduation rate can be found at https://www.fit.edu/institutional-research/institutional-research/core-values–student-success/full-time-ftic-retention-and-graduation-rates/.
Campus Standards, Behavior and University Discipline
A comprehensive system of rules, regulations and campus code of conduct is available in the student handbook. Students are expected to familiarize themselves with these policies and to adhere to them.
Students who violate the university code of conduct, student housing rules and regulations, or any other university regulation are subject to disciplinary action by the university.
Students who are found to be responsible for serious violations of university policy are subject to dismissal.
Disciplinary matters are the responsibility of the dean of students.
Academic Integrity
Academic dishonesty is a serious offense and is not permitted at Florida Tech. The penalties for any type of dishonesty are at the instructor’s discretion in conjunction with the student’s college dean. Depending on the severity of the infraction, the penalties for acts that seem intentional range from a failing grade of F (0 points) on the assignment to a failing grade of F for the course. Severe acts that seem intentional will be forwarded to the dean of students with a recommendation for formal disciplinary action. Any act of academic dishonesty will be documented for future reference in the student’s academic file.
Faculty have access to www.turnitin.com. This online tool is used to determine if plagiarism has occurred and may be used at the discretion of the faculty member for any assignments, required coursework and tests.
Academic honesty is highly valued in all Florida Tech’s courses, whether in the classroom or online. Students must always submit work that represents original words or ideas. If any words or ideas are used that do not represent those original words or ideas, the student must cite all relevant sources and provide a clear definition of the extent to which such sources were used.
Words or ideas that require citation include, but are not limited to, all hard copy or electronic publications, whether copyrighted or not and all verbal or visual communication when the content of such communication clearly originates from an identifiable source.
All submissions to any public meeting (bulletin board or private mailbox) fall within the scope of words and ideas that require citations if used by someone other than the original author.
Academic dishonesty could involve:
- Having a tutor or friend complete a portion of the student’s assignments.
- Having a reviewer make extensive revisions to an assignment.
- Copying work submitted by another student to another public class meeting.
- Using information from online information services without proper citation.
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