WNC Protects Student Privacy

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law that protects student privacy. Personally identifiable information is not released without student consent and signature. To review or pick up academic records in person, a valid photo ID that includes signature is mandatory. The college's registration system requires students to create a PIN or password to access their WNC account. The PIN or password is considered the equivalent of a signature.

Student Right to Inspect Records

Students have a right to inspect and review information in his/her education records, the right to seek to amend education records and the right to have some control over the disclosure of information from education records. WNC is not required to provide copies of such records to students. If a student disagrees with some information in his/her educational records, he/she may challenge that information. If the situation is not resolved to the student's satisfaction, the student may request a hearing. If the student disagrees with the results of that hearing, he/she may submit explanation statements for inclusions in his/her file. Contact Admissions and Records for additional information.

Release Of Transcripts From Other Institutions

When a transcript from another institution is received by Admissions and Records, the transcript becomes the official property of Western Nevada College. Admissions and Records does not release or provide copies of a student's official transcript from another institution to third parties or to the students.

Upon request, students may view their transcript from another institution and take notes in regards to classes, semester, and grades, but may not have a copy. Exceptions to the policy are at the discretion of the Registrar, and are only granted in extreme cases, such as 1) the institution housing the original records has been destroyed and WNC has the only known existing transcript, or 2) international transcripts that the student is unable to obtain.

Enrollment Status

Full-time students are defined as those who are enrolled in 12 or more credits/units (6 or more credits/units for summer); three-quarter time students are enrolled in 9-11 credits/units; half-time students are enrolled in 6-8 credits.

Enrollment Verifications

The National Student Clearinghouse is the authorized agent for WNC for providing enrollment and degree verifications. Students and/or employers or background screening firms requesting enrollment and/or degree verifications may obtain a verification through the Clearinghouse at www.degreeverify.com.

Auditing a Class

Auditing is a process by which the student pays all the regular fees, attends class sessions, receives all the instruction, and generally does the same assignments and work of a regularly enrolled student, but does NOT receive a grade or credits for the class. Auditors are not required to take exams. The last semester date to change credit to audit, or audit to credit for full term classes is the Friday Saturday of the eighth week of the semester (fourth week for summer semester). Changes are processed through myWNC, using the "edit" option located under the "Enroll" section. by submitting a Special Enrollment Authorization from to Admissions and Records.

Course Withdrawal

Classes dropped after the 100 percent refund period that are not "even exchanged" will remain on a student transcript with a grade of "W".

Even Exchanges

Exchange requests to one full-term class after the first week of the semester for another with the same amount of credits must be submitted during the second week of the semester. A signature or email approval from the instructor must be submitted for any class to add. Even exchange of class/credit will remove the dropped class completely from your transcript. Classes dropped after the 100 percent refund period that are not "even exchanged" will remain on your transcript with a grade of "W", and may affect financial aid for students.

Student Responsibility

Students are encouraged to read the college catalog and schedule for important policy, procedure, and deadline information. Students are responsible to add and drop courses through myWNC, ensure they have fulfilled all course prerequisites, verify the accuracy of their enrollment, keep their address and phone number and email address current in myWNC and pay for classes by the published deadline. Unpaid students may be removed from class rosters throughout the semester and will not receive a final grade or credits regardless of attendance and completion of course work.

Storage of Student Records

Educational records are kept by Admissions and Records permanently:

• Final grade rosters and grade change forms
• Schedule of classes
• Files of student graduates

The following records are kept for a minimum of five years for students who attend WNC:

• Admissions applications
• Incoming transcripts or other credit sources
• Personal identification data change forms
• Residency applications
• Enrollment forms