The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), commonly known as the Buckley Amendment, provides students with access to their files and assures them of the confidentiality of their records.
Undergraduates' main academic files are kept in the University Registrar's Office.
Graduate records are kept in the Office of the Vice Provost for Graduate Studies and Research.
The University is not required by legislation to make available to students files kept in the Public Safety Office, University Counseling Center or Student Health Center.
Students with files in these offices should contact the appropriate office with any questions.
There is to be no oral or written release of personally identifiable information from any student's educational record without the signed and dated consent of the student except to:
- authorized University personnel defined by the person responsible for the file as having a reasonable need to know
- state and federal education authorities to whom information must be made available by statute and/or for the audit of federal programs
- organizations and educational agencies involved in testing, administering financial aid or improving instruction, provided the information is presented anonymously
- accrediting agencies
- appropriate persons to comply with a court-ordered subpoena, in which case an attempt is made to notify the student in advance
- appropriate persons in the case of emergency
- University counsel
Public, Directory Information
Information printed in the University Directory and information routinely released to the public, such as Commencement listings, election results and rosters of athletic teams, is regarded as public or "directory information" and, as such, may be released without student consent.
The following information is defined as directory information and can be routinely released unless specified differently by the student:
- name
- local address and telephone number
- home address and telephone number
- class level
- degree information (including any associated majors, certificates or minors)
- dates of attendance
Students should be aware that even though they may request and receive directory exclusion status, it is a federal requirement that the University promptly provide lenders and guarantee agencies with any information it has regarding the last know address, surname, employer and employer address of a borrower who attends or has attended the University.
Information that can not be released
Information that is not classified as directory information and cannot be released to third parties without written consent of the student includes (but is not limited to) the following:
- grades
- grade-point average
- student course schedules (including class name, meeting times, and meeting places)
- financial aid information
- student identification number (usually Social Security number)
Third-party sources requesting to know a student's course schedule for "emergency purposes" should be referred to Public Safety.
Public Safety will attempt to ascertain the nature of the emergency and contact the student with the message.
