Confidentiality With the Chez Veterans Center
The Chez Veterans Center will maintain the confidentiality of all student records as required or permitted by law (FERPA, HIPAA, and Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Confidentiality Act). Any information collected is used by the Center for the benefit of the student. This information may include test data, transcripts, grades, biographical history, disability information, performance reviews, case notes, and correspondence.
Only authorized Center staff have access to student files at the Center. Students do have the right to review their own file upon formal request. Otherwise, information regarding the student’s disability obtained from medical examinations or appropriate post-admissions inquires will be considered confidential and can only be shared with others with a signed consent from the student.
Disability-related information is to be treated as medical information. In general, University faculty and staff do not have a right or a need to access diagnostic or other information regarding a student’s disability. Faculty and staff will be informed of the functionally inhibitive manifestations of the student’s disability and the accommodations necessary or appropriate to meet the student’s needs and compensate for the aforementioned deficiencies. When a student requests an accommodation, they will be informed as to what information will be provided to the faculty or staff regarding the request.
A student’s file may be released pursuant to a court order or subpoena. In addition, a student may give written authorization for the release of educational information when they wish to share it with others. Before giving such authorization, the student should understand the information being released, the purpose of the release, and to whom the information is being released. However, please note that the Center cannot release medical or mental health documentation held in the Center’s files from a third party provider. We can only release medical or mental health documentation that was generated by the Center after the student has provided written authorization.
In an effort to support veteran and disability-related research, including projects designed to assess the efficacy and needs of disability services, the Center may collaborate on a wide range of research initiatives with investigators within and outside the University of Illinois. In such instances, students registered with the Center will be contacted by our staff to ascertain their willingness to participate. Students may refuse participation or withdraw from such studies at any time or for any reason without penalty.