Personal Privacy Protection Law

The New York State Personal Privacy Protection Law (PPPL) allows you to request copies of records from HESC that contain your personal information.

Under the PPPL, you may request records about you that HESC can find and retrieve by using your name, identification number or other identifier. For you to be eligible to receive records under the PPPL, the record you request must also have been used by HESC to make a determination about you.

Filing a PPPL Request

You may request paper copies of your records in writing or in person. Your request should reasonably describe the records sought; and must include identifying information by which your record would likely be stored at HESC, such as your name, address or social security number. HESC may require you to provide sufficient proof of identity, such as a driver’s license.

Paper Request Submission

Send a letter to:
    Personal Privacy Protection Law Compliance Officer
    Cheryl B. Fisher
    New York State Higher Education Services Corporation
    99 Washington Avenue, 13th Floor
    One Commerce Plaza
    Albany, New York 12255

In-Person Requests

To make an "in-person" request, arrive at the HESC business offices, located at 99 Washington Avenue, Albany, New York, with a written description of the personal records you require.
  • Go to the 13th floor Reception Desk and ask for the Personal Privacy Protection Law Compliance Officer.
  • An employee will be called to the reception desk to take your PPPL request.
  • You may make an in-person request on any HESC work day between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. EST.

Deadlines

Within 5 business days of our receipt of your paper or in-person PPPL request, HESC will:
  • make your records available in their entirety; or
  • deny your request in whole or in part and provide a written explanation; or
  • send a letter to you acknowledging your request and provide the approximate date when the request will be granted or denied. The date indicated in this letter will not exceed 30 days from the date of the letter itself.

Inspection

Once you are notified that the records you requested under PPPL are available, you may avoid a copying fee by inspecting the records at HESC’s office (the address listed above). Records shall be available for inspection Monday through Friday at HESC’s office between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 a.m. EST.

Costs

HESC may charge 25 cents per page for photocopies that do not exceed 9 by 14 inches. The fee for photocopies or records larger than 9 by 14 inches per page will be the actual cost of reproducing the record, if assessed. The cost of postage will be added to all mailings for which a photocopying fee is assessed.

Amending Your Personal Information

Upon reviewing your records, you may make a request to HESC to correct or amend your records or personal information. To do so, send a letter to the PPPL Compliance Officer with the desired changes. Within 30 business days of receipt of the letter, HESC will:
  • make the correction or amendment in whole or in part and inform you that upon request such correction or amendment will be provided to any person or governmental unit to whom the record or personal information has been disclosed; or
  • inform you that the record cannot be corrected or amended and provide an explanation.

Committee on Open Government

The Committee on Open Government has additional information on the PPPL. For further information on the Committee or PPPL, visit: www.dos.state.ny.us/coog/coogwww.html.