FERPA (Rights to Privacy)
Student Right to Privacy & Right to Know
What is FERPA?
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a US law that governs the privacy of student educational records, access to those records, and disclosure of information from them.
What are a student’s primary rights under FERPA?
Students have the following rights under FERPA.
- Right to inspect and review educational records.
- Right to seek to amend education records.
- Right to consent to the disclosure of personally identifiable information, except to the extent FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.
- Right to file a complaint with the US Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the College to comply with the requirements of FERPA.
What is directory information?
Directory information is the information the College is able to release regarding a student unless the student requests it not to be released. Directory information includes:
- Student’s name
- Local address
- Major field of study
- Academic classification and enrollment status
- Participation in recognized activities (including photographs of sponsored activities
- Dates of attendance
- Degrees/Certificates and awards received
- Inclusion of an individual in a group photo
Authorization to Withhold Directory Information
If the student objects to the release of directory information, the student should contact the Registrar in writing. Requests for non-disclosure will be honored until written notice is received form the student to remove the request for non-disclosure.
As a parent, what are my rights to my child’s educational records?
At the postsecondary level, parents have no inherent right to inspect a student’s educational records. The right to inspect is limited solely to the student. Records may be released to parents only under the following circumstances:
- Through the written consent of the student
- In compliance with subpoena