This FAQ is not legal advice; it is an advisory explaining guiding principles designed to ensure RCC students, faculty, and staff understand their rights and responsibilities when interacting with law enforcement officers while protecting the privacy and safety of our campus community. Please contact the Department of Public Safety if you have any more questions or concerns.
Rockland Community College Department of Public Safety
[email protected]
845-574-4238/4217
Access to Campus
If I work in a public access building (such as the Technology Center), can I prohibit access to law enforcement officers?
No. RCC cannot prohibit law enforcement officers from coming on campus to enforce federal law. However, you must alert the RCC Public Safety that a law enforcement officer is on campus.
If I teach in a classroom, am I obligated to allow law enforcement officers to enter my classroom?
Generally, law enforcement can only require you to allow entry to these spaces with a specific type of warrant. If you are presented with a warrant or other court order by law enforcement, you should follow the instructions above. However, if law enforcement insists on entry before school officials or legal advice can be received, please do not interfere with the law enforcement operations.
Records Requests
If a law enforcement officer requests personal or personally identifiable information about a student, including class rosters, etc., am I obligated to provide it?
No. As an RCC employee, per federal privacy laws and RCC policy, you must maintain the confidentiality of personal and personally identifiable information, including student records. RCC generally requires law enforcement officers to produce a valid subpoena authorizing the disclosure of such records.
If you are asked for student personal information by an individual who has identified themself as a law enforcement officer, regardless of whether they present a subpoena, inform the officer that you need to speak with a College administrator and immediately contact the RCC Department of Public Safety for further guidance. RCC Public Safety will address the request with RCC’s legal counsel.
I am a staff member (e.g., financial aid officer or human resources officer). If a law enforcement officer requests personal and personally identifiable information about a student or employee, am I obligated to provide the requested information?
Personally identifiable educational and College health records are protected by various privacy laws, including the Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA). As a College employee, you must maintain the confidentiality of these records. If you receive a request for personally identifiable information or documents, or if a law enforcement officer gives you a warrant or subpoena seeking such records, you should ask the officer for their name and agency affiliation; ask for a copy of any warrant or subpoena presented; inform the officer that you are not obstructing their process but need to contact the RCC Department of Public Safety to assist appropriately.