This statement documents my experience as a current student at Hillsborough Community College and…read morethe ongoing misconduct involving Student Advisor Gary Iglesias, along with the institution's failure to provide transparency, accountability, or compliance with federal student privacy obligations.
Over the past four years, Mr. Iglesias has repeatedly referenced my student information in ways that fall outside legitimate educational interest. On multiple occasions, he made comments about my GPA directly to my children -- an inappropriate and unprofessional disclosure of student information that no advisor should be making. This pattern demonstrates a long term disregard for boundaries and raises serious concerns about improper access to my records.
In recent months, his conduct escalated dramatically. Mr. Iglesias initiated welfare checks, contacted the Department of Children and Families, and contributed to false contempt allegations in court -- all based on inaccurate information and conducted outside the college environment. These interventions had direct consequences for my family and legal matters, and they appear to have been influenced by his access to my student records and his position within the institution.
When I attempted to file a formal grievance, the college minimized the seriousness of the situation. I was informed only that my student account had been "flagged" or "restricted," yet the institution refused to provide the underlying documentation, rationale, or audit trail explaining:
* who accessed my records
* why the flag was placed
* what information was used
* whether my records were disclosed outside the institution
As a student, I have clear rights under FERPA to inspect and review my education records, including advising notes, account flags, restrictions, and any documentation containing personally identifiable information. The college's refusal to provide these records -- while acknowledging that my account was flagged -- raises significant concerns about improper access, misuse of information, and noncompliance with federal privacy law.
My concern is straightforward: a student advisor has used his position for four years to reference, comment on, and potentially access my information for purposes unrelated to legitimate educational interest, culminating in external interventions that no advisor should be involved in. The college has not provided transparency, corrective action, or any indication that it has investigated the misuse of student information.
This experience reflects a breakdown in professional ethics, student record governance, and institutional oversight. Students deserve advisors who act within the boundaries of their role, institutions that take grievances seriously, and full transparency when their records are accessed, flagged, or used in ways that affect their lives outside the classroom.
