Family Education Rights & Privacy Act of 1974 (Buckley Amendment)
The full text of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), as amended, appears below. The University is authorized under the Act to release directory information concerning students unless the University has received a prior written objection from the student specifying information not to be released. Students are notified in writing annually by the Registrar of their rights under FERPA. Forms to request the non-disclosure of directory information, as well as forms to authorize third-party access to confidential student records are available in the Registrar’s Office.
The Federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (20 USC 1232g) and regulations adopted thereunder (34 CFR 99) set out requirements designed to protect the privacy of students concerning their records maintained by the campus. Specifically, the statute and regulations govern access to student records maintained by the University, and the release of such records. In brief, the law provides that the University must provide students access to records directly related to the student and an opportunity for a hearing to challenge such records on the grounds that they are inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise inappropriate. The right to a hearing under the law does not include any right to challenge the appropriateness of a grade as determined by the instructor. The law generally requires that written consent of the student be received before releasing personally identifiable data about the student from records to other than a specified list of exceptions. An office and review board has been established by the Department to investigate and adjudicate violations and complaints. The office designated for this purpose is: The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act Office (FERPA), US Department of Education, 330 C Street, Room 4511, Washington, DC 20202.
The University is authorized under the act to release “directory information” concerning students. “Directory information” includes the student’s name, address, telephone numbers, e-mail address, enrollment status, class level, course-load, date and place of birth, major field of study, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of members of athletic teams, dates of attendance, degrees and awards received, date(s) of degree(s), and previous educational institutions attended by the student. The above-designated information is subject to release by the University at any time unless the University has received prior written objection from the student specifying information which he/she does not agree to be released. Written objections should be sent to the Registrar’s Office.
The University is authorized to provide access to student records to campus officials and employees who have legitimate educational interests in such access. These persons are those who have responsibilities in connection with the University’s academic, administrative, or service functions and who have reason for using student records connected with their campus or other related academic responsibilities. Disclosure may also be made to other persons or organizations under certain conditions (e.g., as part of accreditation or program evaluation; in response to a court order or subpoena; in connection with financial aid; to other institutions to which the student is transferring.
