Notification of Rights under FERPA
for Postsecondary Institutions
The Family Educational
Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect
to their education 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.
that identifies the record(s) the student wishes
to inspect. The 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 the
amendment of the student’s education records that the student believes are
inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy
rights under FERPA.
A student who wishes to ask
the University to amend a record should write the University official
responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record the
student wants changed, and specify why it 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 discloses
education records without a student’s prior written consent under the FERPA
exception for disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational
interests. A school official is a person employed by the University in an
administrative, supervisory, academic or research, or support staff position
(including law enforcement unit personnel and health staff); a person or
company with whom the University has contracted as its agent to provide a
service instead of using University employees or officials (such as an
attorney, auditor, or collection agent); 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. A school official has a
legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an
education record in order to fulfill his or her professional
responsibilities for the University.
- The right to file a
complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures
by the University to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and
address of the Office that administers FERPA is:
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202-5901
|
|
