Solomon Amendment
The 1996 Solomon Amendment is the common name of 10 U.S.C. § 983, a United States federal law that allows the Secretary of Defense to deny federal grants (including research grants) to institutions of higher education if they prohibit or prevent ROTC or military recruitment on campus or release of enrolled student recruiting information.
Student Recruiting Information
The Solomon Amendment allows the Department of Defense Military Services entities, to obtain certain information about currently enrolled full-time students, ages 17 and over, once per term. A full-time student is enrolled in 12 or more credits in a term.
The information is limited to:
- Student Name
- Addresses
- Phone numbers
- Age
- Level of Education
- Degree program currently enrolled
- Degrees received for recent graduates
- Educational institution last enrolled
Exemptions to Request
The Solomon Amendment requires educational institutions to disclose student recruiting information in its possession. In addition, the Solomon Amendment does recognize student rights under FERPA to withhold disclosure of Directory Information. Students can request that Cuesta withhold Directory Information by submitting a Change Of Information form to Admissions & Registration, with photo ID.
Procedure for Releasing Information to Military Recruiter
- Request letter must be on the Military Services standard letterhead and cite the relevant legal authority under the Solomon Amendment. In addition, the scope of the request must specifically ask for the aforementioned Student Recruiting Information.
- Military recruiters may request student recruitment information of full-time students once each term for the following Military Services, including their Reserve or National Guard components:
- Army
- Navy
- Marine Corps
- Air Force
- Coast Guard
- Validation of the request will be made to ensure the request is submitted from one who is legally authorized and to clarify the scope of the request if needed. Upon validation, a request will be processed beginning the third week of a term, after the deadline to enroll in full-term courses when students establish full-time enrollment in 12 or more credits.
- Submit requests either
US mail to:
Cuesta College Records Office
Attention: Zhrinna McDonald, Associate Dean, Financial Aid and Records
PO Box 8106
San Luis Obispo CA 93403-8106
In-Person San Luis Obispo Campus:
Building 3100, Admissions & Registration windows
By email as a PDF attachment