Legal Information and Useful Links
College-wide Policies
OGC participates in the College's Policy Advisory Group to develop and maintain policies that effect the entire FIT community and to ensure the Colleges compliance with federal, state and local law. Visit FIT's College Policy Library.
New York State's Freedom of Information Law (Public Officers Law, Article 6) provides procedures for public access to records maintained by public entities, including the College, with certain statutory exceptions. The General Counsel serves as the Records Access Officer for the College under FOIL and is responsible for determinations on requests for access to College records. All inquiries received for FIT records should be forwarded to OGC for review and appropriate action. More information about FOIL.
Campus Security, Fire Safety and Missing Persons Policies and Statistics
FIT complies with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and regulations as well as with the safety and security requirements of the Higher Education Opportunity Act. The federal Handbook for Safety and Security Reporting covers compliance with the relevant provisions of both of these laws.
Information on the College's policies and reporting practices can be obtained by visiting the College's Campus Safety & Security website and in the Student Rights and Responsibilities webpage.
Non-Discrimination and Affirmative Action
FIT has a policy of nondiscrimination that recognizes its obligation, both as an employer and an educational institution, to maintain an environment free from discrimination based on race, national origin, ethnicity, color, age, gender, religion, disability, sexual orientation, familial status, veteran status, in its employee hiring and employment practices, and in its administration of student admissions and educational programs. The College's Affirmative Action Officer and Acting Director of Compliance is Griselda Gonzalez, Office of Planning, Assessment and Compliance, David Dubinsky Student Center, Room A605, (212) 217-3360.
Title IX and Sex Discrimination
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits sex discrimination in any education program or activity that receives federal financial assistance. FIT complies with that law and the regulations and guidance issued by the Office for Civil Rights of the U.S. Department of Education which enforces Title IX. FIT's Title IX Coordinator is Griselda Gonzalez, Affirmative Action Officer and Acting Director of Compliance, Office of Planning, Assessment and Compliance, David Dubinsky Student Center, Room A605, (212) 217-3360.
FERPA
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law that protects students privacy interests in their education records maintained by the College or any persons acting on the Colleges behalf. Education records contain information directly related to students that are maintained by FIT. FERPA generally requires that prior written consent be provided by the student (or a parent if the student is a minor) before disclosure to a third party is permitted. For more information about FIT's implementation of FERPA. Information for faculty and staff.
Records Retention and Disposal, Schedule MI-1
New York State requires FIT to maintain and preserve certain records in order to ensure that documents (including electronic records and email) are retained for the proper administrative, legal, fiscal and historical purposes. The time periods for record retention vary depending on the nature of the information in a given record. For example, student transcripts must be maintained permanently. The College's financial records must be maintained for a minimum of six years, but emails concerning scheduling of a meeting may be discarded immediately. The State's requisite retention periods are set forth in full on Schedule MI-1 at the New York State Archives.
SUNY also has record retention and disposition rules applicable to FIT. If you have questions about retention requirements for your own documents, records and materials, contact Griselda Gonzalez, Records Management Officer.
