Annual FERPA Notification of Student Rights

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect to their educational records. These rights include:

  • The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days of the day the University receives a request for access. A student should submit to the Registrar, Dean, head of the academic department, or other appropriate official, a written request that identifies the record(s) the student wishes to inspect. A University official will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. If the records are not maintained by the University official to whom the request was submitted, that official shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed.
  • The right to request an amendment of your education record if the student believes it is inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy rights under FERPA. A student seeking an amendment to their educational record should write the University official responsible for the record in question. The written request must identify the portion for which they are seeking an amendment clearly specifying why the record should be changed. If the University decides not to amend the record as requested, the University will notify the student in writing of the decision and the student’s right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the student when notified of the right to a hearing. 
  • The right to provide written consent before the University discloses personally identifiable information from the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. The University may disclose information to University officials with a legitimate educational interest under FERPA without the student’s prior written consent. A school official is a person employed by the University in an administrative, supervisory, academic or research, or support staff position (including law enforcement personnel and health center staff); a person serving on the Board of Trustees; or a student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks.

There is an exception to the non-disclosure of private, confidential information from a student’s educational record referred to as directory information. Directory information is defined as information contained in an education record of a student that would not generally be considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if disclosed. Please refer questions regarding preventing the disclosure of directory information to the Registrar’s Office. The University considers the following directory information:

University considers the following directory information:

  1. Students’ names
  2. Students’ telephone listing
  3. Students’ electronic mail addresses
  4. Place of birth
  5. Dates of attendance
  6. Enrollment status (Undergraduate, graduate, full or part-time)
  7. Students’ class and academic majors
  8. Degrees, honors, and awards received
  9. Participation in officially recognized activities or sports
  10. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the College to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA is:

Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202-5901

FERPA Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What is FERPA?
    FERPA stands for the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. FERPA is a Federal law that maintains students’ privacy rights related to their educational records.
  2. Who does FERPA apply to?
    FERPA guarantees privacy rights for all students registered at the College. Even if a student is under the age of 18 they are still afforded the protections provided by FERPA. The privacy rights belong solely to the student even if they are a dependent of a parent or guardian. For new students these rights begin on the first day of class the first semester for which they are enrolled.
  3. What rights do students have according to FERPA?
    • Right to inspect and review their educational records
    • Right to request an amendment to their educational record
    • Right to limit directory information
    • Right to file a complaint with the United States Department of Education for failing to comply with FERPA
  4. Who has access to a student’s records?
    The student has complete access to their educational records. Students are welcome to submit a FERPA Waiver to the Office of the Registrar that will allow access to other specifically named individuals.
  5. Can the University disclose alcohol or substance abuse violations to parents?
    Yes. If the student is under the age of 21 the College is permitted under FERPA to disclose the information to parents of an enrolled student.
  6. Why must I complete a transcript request form?
    Students must provide a signature to permit the release of records, including transcripts of academic work. A student’s identity must be verified each time a request is made.
  7. Who has access to educational records without a student’s written consent?
    First and foremost, the student always has access to their educational records. College officials (administrator and faculty) who have a legitimate educational interest are also able to access educational records as it applies to the college official’s due course of business. Individuals specifically named on FERPA Waivers are also permitted access to educational records.
  8. Is all student information collected by the University protected by FERPA?
    FERPA identifies directory information as information that if disclosed would not be harmful or invasion of privacy. The following items are listed as directory information by the College:
    1. Students’ names
    2. Email Address
    3. Place of Birth
    4. Telephone listing
    5. Dates of attendance
    6. Enrollment status
    7. Students’ class level and academic major
    8. Degrees, honors, and awards received
    9. Participation in officially recognized sports and/or activities
  9. Why won’t the University tell me my grades or Grade Point Average (GPA) over the telephone?
    Since we are unable to verify your identity and maintain an exact record of a telephone conversation we are not permitted to provide protected information over the telephone.