The Family Educational Rights
and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect
to their education records. They are:
1. The right to inspect and review the student's education records within 45
days of the day the University receives a request for access. Students should
submit to the registrar written requests that identify the record(s) they wish
to inspect. The Registrar 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 in the Office of the Registrar, the Registrar will advise
the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed.
2. The right to request the amendment of the student's education records that the student believes are inaccurate or misleading.
Students may ask the University to
amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading. They
should write the University official responsible for the record,
clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and
specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. If the University decides
not to amend the record as requested by the student, the University
will notify the student of the decision and advise the student
of his or her 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.
3. The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information
contained in the student's education records, except to the extent that FERPA
authorizes disclosure without consent.
One exception which permits disclosure without consent is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interest. 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 (such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent); a person serving on the Board of Supervisors; or a student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official committee 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 responsibility. Upon request, the University discloses education records without consent to officials of another school (Registrar to Registrar) in which a student seeks or intends to enroll.
4. The right to file a complaint with the U. S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by state university to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the office that administers FERPA are:
Family Policy Compliance Office
U. S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202-4605