FERPA is a federal law that protects the privacy of students. The law assigns the student as the owner of their educational record and provides guidelines on how the educational institution is to use and release protected information. This insures that information such as the student’s grades, academic standing, and course schedule are not public information and that the student controls who has access to this information. This law also requires the educator to grant the student's access to their personal records.
What Does That Mean as a Student?
This means the university can only give out information that is listed as directory information; however, students may place a FERPA hold to restrict directory information. Access to grades, academic standing, and course schedule are considered protected and cannot be released without the student’s written consent.
What Are Student Rights?
FERPA defines basic rights for students.
- The student is required to be notified annually of their FERPA rights.
- The student is to be able to review and inspect their records.
- The student has the right to request an amendment to their educational record they believe is inaccurate or misleading.
- The student must consent to disclosure of non-public educational records (with exceptions).
Why Should Students Care About FERPA?
FERPA protects the student’s privacy by dictating what can be accessed by the public. It is important for students to know and understand their rights, how those rights affect their role as students, and how to grant access to desired individuals.