Phi Theta Kappa records (Suffolk Community College)

Good afternoon,

I am writing to acknowledge your Freedom of Information Law Request, received by the College on September 24, 2024. The College will endeavor to respond to this request, by providing the records, to the extent that they exist and may be disclosed, on or before October 29, 2024.

With respect to items #1 and #2 of the request: “all records provided to and from the college to PTK from 1/1/24 to 9/20/24”, please note that there are approximately 9 College employees who serve as PTK chapter advisors at the College’s 3 campuses<https://www.sunysuffolk.edu/experience-student-life/campus-activities/honor-societies/phi-theta-kappa.jsp>. The process of retrieving, reviewing, and redacting if required, all correspondences sent and received by the advisors over a nine-month period will be a very time consuming and lengthy process. If you are able to narrow down your request, to specify exactly what types of records you are seeking, to enable the College to retrieve them faster, that would be appreciated.

Alla Brodsky, Esq.
Deputy General Counsel
Suffolk County Community College
Ammerman Campus
Office: 631-451-4251
Email: brodskya@sunysuffolk.edu<mailto:brodskya@sunysuffolk.edu>

PRIVILEGED & CONFIDENTIAL
ATTORNEY-CLIENT COMMUNICATION/ATTORNEY WORK PRODUCT
INTER-OFFICE/INTRA-AGENCY COMMUNICATION
NOT SUBJECT TO FOIL DISCLOSURE/NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION

Good afternoon,

Suffolk County Community College (“SCCC”) requires additional time to retrieve and prepare the records requested in the within Freedom of Information Law (“FOIL”) request. I will do my best to provide the records to you on or before November 27, 2024.

With respect to requests # 6 and #7, SCCC has not paid any money to, nor received any money from, Phi Theta Kappa during the time period in question. Suffolk County College Association, Inc. (the “Association”), is a separate non-profit corporation whose purpose is to oversee co-curricular programs and services which benefit SCCC students, has made payments to PTK, and has received payments from PTK. The College’s Office of Legal Affairs assists with responses to FOIL requests made to the Association. So to the extent that you would like to receive the Association’s records in response to this request, I will facilitate obtaining those records from the Association.

Alla Brodsky, Esq.
Deputy General Counsel
Suffolk County Community College
Ammerman Campus
Email: brodskya@sunysuffolk.edu<mailto:brodskya@sunysuffolk.edu>

PRIVILEGED & CONFIDENTIAL
ATTORNEY-CLIENT COMMUNICATION/ATTORNEY WORK PRODUCT
INTER-OFFICE/INTRA-AGENCY COMMUNICATION
NOT SUBJECT TO FOIL DISCLOSURE/NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION

Dear Marina Villeneuve,

I am writing in response to your Freedom of Information Law (“FOIL”) request received by the College on September 24, 2024. Please see the responses below and attached.

1. “Copies of all records provided by your college to Phi Theta Kappa from Jan. 1, 2024 to Sept 20, 2024.” This request was later clarified as “records concerning student information provided by Suffolk County Community College, including eligibility criteria for Phi Theta Kappa members and lists of students to be invited to PTK.”

Response:

1a. Ammerman Campus Chapter (Alpha Zeta Nu (“AZN”)): In the Spring 2024 semester, a list containing 929 student names and each student’s program of study, address, GPA, and college email address and telephone number was provided to PTK by the College’s AZN Chapter. For the Fall 2024 semester, a list containing 803 students’ names was provided to PTK by AZN. These students were subsequently invited to join the AZN Chapter by PTK. They were deemed eligible for membership in PTK based on the following membership criteria:

* A student must have completed 15 credits or more at any campus of Suffolk County Community College (“SCCC”)
* A student must have a 3.50 GPA or higher
* A student must have Ammerman registered as their home campus
* A student must be enrolled in at least 3 credits during the semester when they are invited to join

To the extent you have requested the actual lists submitted by the College to PTK, that request is hereby denied. Pursuant to the New York State Freedom of Information Law statute (“FOIL”), the College may withhold information which, if disclosed, would constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy, as well as information which is exempted from disclosure by federal statute. See N.Y. Public Officers Law §87(2)(b), and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

1b. Grant Campus Chapter (Alpha Delta Gamma (•••)): In the Spring 2024 semester, a list containing 700 student names, addresses and email addresses was provided to PTK by Alpha Delta Gamma. In the Fall 2024 semester, a list containing 572 student names was provided to PTK. These students were invited to join the Alpha Delta Gamma Chapter and were eligible for membership in PTK based on the following membership criteria:

* have completed at least 12 credits or more at SCCC (any campus),
* have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher,
* are currently enrolled in classes for the semester in which they are invited and are designated a Grant campus student

1c. Eastern Campus Chapter (Alpha Eta Psi ••••)): •n the spring 2024 semester, a list containing 389 student names, addresses and email addresses was provided to PTK by Alpha Eta Psi. In the Fall 2024, a list containing 225 student names was provided to PTK. These students were invited to join the Alpha Eta Psi Chapter and were eligible for membership in PTK based on the following membership criteria:

* A student must have completed 12 credits or more at SCCC (any campus)
* A student must have a 3.50 GPA or higher
* A student must have Eastern registered as their home campus
* A student must be currently enrolled in the semester they are invited

1. “Copies of all records provided to your college from Phi Theta Kappa from Jan. 1, 2024 to Sept 20, 2024”. This request was later clarified as “records concerning student information provided to Suffolk County Community College, including eligibility criteria for Phi Theta Kappa members and lists of students to be invited to PTK.”

Response:

Phi Theta Kappa sent Weekly Membership Summary reports to each of the College’s chapters, which listed the students who have accepted membership. Reports received by advisors for the three of the College’s chapters are enclosed. Please note that student names, and other identifying information has been redacted.

1. “Copies of correspondence sent from Phi Theta Kappa to your college president, CEO and/or chancellor from Jan. 1, 2024 to Sept 20, 2024.”

Response: Responsive records are enclosed. Please note that student names have been redacted.

1. Copies of all records showing the number of students in the top 10% of their class as of May 1, 2024. If the community college does not collect data about class rank, please state so.

Response: the College does not maintain, nor collect data about class rank.

1. Records showing the number of students who are members of Phi Theta Kappa on your campus, and the number of students invited to Phi Theta Kappa over the past year.

Response:

5a. Ammerman Campus (Alpha Zeta Nu (“AZN”)): As of October 16, 2024, there were 1061 members of the AZN Chapter. 929 students were invited to join in Spring of 2024 semester; and 803 students were invited to join in Fall of 2024.

5b. Grant Campus Chapter (Alpha Delta Gamma (•••): As of October 24, 2024, there were 232 members of the Grant Campus Chapter. 700 students were invited to join in the Spring of 2024 semester, and 573 were invited to join in the Fall 2024 semester.

5c. Eastern Campus Chapter (Alpha Eta Psi ••••)): As of October 24, 2024, there were 90 members of the Alpha Eta Psi Chapter. 389 were invited to join in the Spring of 2024 semester, and 225 students were invited to join in the Fall of 2024 semester.

1. Copies of all records showing the amount of money your college paid to Phi Theta Kappa from Jan. 1, 2023 to Sept 20, 2024 and for what purposes.

1. Copies of all records showing the amount of money your college received from Phi Theta Kappa from Jan. 1, 2023 to Sept 20, 2024, and for what purposes.

Response: Suffolk County Community College (“SCCC”) has not paid any money to Phi Theta Kappa, nor has it received any money from Phi Theta Kappa during the time period in question. Suffolk Community College Association, Inc.<https://www.sunysuffolk.edu/current-students/scc-association.jsp> (the “Association”), a separate non-profit corporation whose purpose is to oversee co-curricular programs and services which directly benefit SCCC students, has made payments to and has received payments from PTK. The Association’s records are enclosed.

1. Your college's policy for the handling of student data provided to and provided by Phi Theta Kappa.

The College’s Student Records Policy is available for review on our website: Student Records Policy (sunysuffolk.edu)<https://www.sunysuffolk.edu/legalaffairs/documents/f9studentrecordspolicy.pdf>.

Right to Appeal
Any person denied access to a record may appeal the decision in writing within thirty (30) days. Please state a specific ground for appeal and include copies of the initial request and the denial. Appeals should be sent to:

Ashley Pope
General Counsel
533 College Road – NFL 230
Selden, NY 11784
popea@sunysuffolk.edu<mailto:popea@sunysuffolk.edu>

Alla Brodsky, Esq.
Deputy General Counsel
Suffolk County Community College
Ammerman Campus
Office: 631-451-4251
Email: brodskya@sunysuffolk.edu<mailto:brodskya@sunysuffolk.edu>

PRIVILEGED & CONFIDENTIAL
ATTORNEY-CLIENT COMMUNICATION/ATTORNEY WORK PRODUCT
INTER-OFFICE/INTRA-AGENCY COMMUNICATION
NOT SUBJECT TO FOIL DISCLOSURE/NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION