C2C Policy and Terms of Use

Welcome to Mississippi Complete 2 Compete’s website ("Site"). This Privacy Policy page was created to ensure you understand our privacy policy and terms of use.

How We Use Your Personal Information
Mississippi Complete 2 Compete accepts and stores any personal information you submit through our Site. We use this information to respond to your personal requests for information and to communicate with you. Your contact information may be shared with participating Mississippi colleges and universities to fulfill your request.

Non-Personal Data
Mississippi Complete 2 Compete collects non-personal information about your computer operating system and peripherals, and the domain name from which you access our website. We use this aggregate information to enhance your experience on the website and improve its usability.

Cookies
We reserve the right to use cookie technology. A cookie is a small data file that is stored on your hard drive when you visit a website. A cookie file can contain various types of information, including a user ID so that the Site better understands the pages of interest to you. We use cookies to enhance the experience on this Site for you and others we aim to serve, as well as to determine user traffic patterns, or for other purposes.

Protection for Children
This Site is not intended for users under the age of 18, and we have no intention of collecting personally identifiable information from these individuals. Where appropriate, we take reasonable measures to inform users under the age of 18 not to submit such information to our site or respond to advertisements.

Electronic Communication
When you visit our Site or send e-mails to us, you are communicating with us electronically. You consent to receive communications from us electronically. We will communicate with you by e-mail or by posting notices on this site. You agree that all notices, disclosures, agreements and other communications that we provide to you electronically satisfy any legal requirement that such communications be in writing.

If you received a mailing from us, (a) your email address is either listed with us as someone who has expressly shared this address for the purpose of receiving information or (b) you have registered or otherwise have a prior or existing relationship with us. 

Copyright
All content included on this site such as text, graphics, logos, button icons, audio clips, and digital downloads are protected by United States and international copyright laws. The products or services names used on this website Site are not to be duplicated or reused without express written permission of the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning.

Contacting Mississippi Complete 2 Compete
If you have any questions about this privacy policy, the practices of this Site, or your dealings with this Site, you can contact us at:

Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning
Complete 2 Compete Project Coordinator
3825 Ridgewood Road
Jackson, MS 39211

Effective Date
This privacy policy is effective and was last updated on March 6, 2020.

FERPA Notice of Privacy Rights and Release of Information

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), affords eligible students certain rights with respect to the student’s education records. It requires Complete 2 Compete, with certain exceptions, to obtain your written consent prior to the disclosure of personally identifiable information from your education records. However, Complete 2 Compete may disclose designated “directory information,” as well as other qualifying information, without written consent, unless you have advised Complete 2 Compete to the contrary.

Directory information, which is information that is generally not considered personally identifiable information, can also be disclosed to outside organizations without prior written consent. The following items of information are considered directory information: student’s name, address, telephone number, email address, photograph, date and place of birth, class level, major field of study, dates of attendance, enrolment status, date of graduation, degrees and awards received and most recent educational institution attended. Also, a student ID number, user ID, or other unique personal identified used to communicate in electronic systems but only if the identifier cannot be used to gain access to education records except when used in conjunction with one or more factors that authenticate the user’s identify, such as a PIN, password, or other factor known or possessed only by the authorized user, or a student ID number or other unique personal identifier that is displayed on a student ID badge, but only if the identifier cannot be used to gain access to education records except when used in conjunction with one or more factors that authenticate the user’s identity, such as a PIN, password, or other factor known or possessed only by the authorized user.

If you do not want Complete 2 Compete to disclose any or all of the information designated above as directory information from your education records without your prior consent, you must notify Complete 2 Compete using the FERPA Opt-Out Form.

Complete 2 Compete is authorized to provide access to student records to Mississippi university and community college officials and employees, Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning officials and employees, and contracted agencies who have legitimate educational interest in such access, without the student’s written consent. These persons are those who have responsibilities in connection with Complete 2 Compete and have reasons for using student records connected with Mississippi university campuses or other related academic/administrative responsibilities as opposed to personal or private interest.

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) provides 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 attends a postsecondary institution at any age.)

These rights include:

  • The right to inspect and review the student's education records within 45 days after receipt of a request for access.
  • The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the student believes is inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy rights under FERPA.
  • The right to provide written consent before disclosing personally identifiable information from the student's education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.
  • 4. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the postsecondary institution to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the office that administers FERPA is: Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20202-4605.

Release of Education Records:

FERPA permits the disclosure of personally identifiable information from students’ education records, without consent of the student, if the disclosure meets certain conditions. Except for disclosures to school officials, disclosures related to some judicial orders or lawfully issued subpoenas, disclosures of directory information, and disclosures to the student, FERPA regulations require the institution to record the disclosure. Eligible students have a right to inspect and review the record of disclosures.

Complete 2 Compete may disclose education records without a student’s prior written consent under FERPA to Complete 2 Compete/Mississippi university and community college officials and employees, and contracted agencies with legitimate educational interests. Upon request, Complete 2 Compete may also discloses education records without consent to officials of another school in which a student seeks to enroll.

A university or school official includes professors; instructors; administrators; health staff; counselors; attorneys; clerical staff; trustees; members of committees and disciplinary boards; and a contractor, volunteer or other party to whom the school has outsourced institutional services or functions. A school official generally has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility.

Similarly, Complete 2 Compete may disclose a student’s “directory” information without prior written consent. Directory information includes: student’s name, address, telephone number, email address, photograph, date and place of birth, class level, major field of study, dates of attendance, enrollment status, date of graduation, degrees and awards received and most recent educational institution attended. Also, a student ID number, user ID, or other unique personal identified used to communicate in electronic systems but only if the identifier cannot be used to gain access to education records except when used in conjunction with one or more factors that authenticate the user’s identify, such as a PIN, password, or other factor known or possessed only by the authorized user, or a student ID number or other unique personal identifier that is displayed on a student ID badge, but only if the identifier cannot be used to gain access to education records except when used in conjunction with one or more factors that authenticate the user’s identity, such as a PIN, password, or other factor known or possessed only by the authorized user.

Additionally, Complete 2 Compete may disclose personally identifiable information from the education records without obtaining prior written consent of the student as follows:

  • To other school officials, including teachers, within institution whom the school has determined to have legitimate educational interests. This includes contractors, consultants, volunteers, or other parties to whom the school has outsourced institutional services or functions, provided that the conditions listed in § 99.31(a)(1)(i)(B)(1) - (a)(1)(i)(B)(3) are met. (§ 99.31(a)(1))
  • To officials of another school 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 organizations conducting studies for, or on behalf of, the school, 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))
  • Information the school 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 school 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 school’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 school, governing the use or possession of alcohol or a controlled substance if the school determines the student committed a disciplinary violation and the student is under the age of 21. (§99.31(a)(15))

Rev. 1/21/2022: 2022-2023 Annual FERPA Notification