FERPA – Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act

Information about FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act).

In 1974, Congress enacted the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) to guarantee students access to their education records and to prohibit dissemination of educational records without the student’s consent. The summary that follows is intended to address questions that most frequently arise concerning compliance with FERPA.

The Federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students three basic rights:

1. The right to inspect and review their education records.
2. The right to have some control over the disclosure of their education records.
3. The right to seek the amendment of their education records in certain circumstances.

FERPA applies to all institutions that receive funds administered by the Secretary of Education in the US Department of Education.  FERPA applies to the education records of individuals, regardless of age, who are currently, or who have been, in attendance in postsecondary institutions.  Education records are those records that are directly related to a student and are maintained by an institution or a party acting for the institution. Except under certain conditions, institutions may not disclose information contained in a student’s education records to any third party, including parents, without the student’s written permission. The University has established guidelines for implementation of this law and associated regulations, which can also be found on the University FERPA and Compliance Page.

• Directory Information
• FERPA for Students and Parents
• FERPA for Faculty/Staff
• FERPA Definitions
• FERPA Training
• FERPA – Consent to Release Records
• FERPA Provisions Relevant to Crisis Situations (Summary)
• Student Records Policy

FERPA – What You Need to Know in Less than 5 Minutes

Everyone working with student education records plays an important role in protecting student privacy. Now
you can watch a 5‐minute animated video to learn about FERPA, the rights it affords, and best practices for
protecting student records. Just click on the arrow in the image to watch it online – it’s that easy!