Student Privacy (FERPA) Policies

The Federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974 sets forth requirements regarding student records, including the release and access to records.

Under FERPA Educational Records are defined as records that are directly related to a student and are maintained by an educational agency/institution or by a party acting for the agency/institution.

FERPA gives students the right to:

• inspect and review their records
• request to amend their records
• limit disclosure of public/directory information
• and also requires students to give their permission to release private information.
  

Under FERPA the following information is considered to be private information: grades, CSU ID number, Social Security Number, class schedule, residency, class rank, age, birth date, and place of birth; meaning this information may only be released with the student’s permission.

Public or directory information includes: current address and telephone number, major, class level, dates of attendance, anticipated graduation date and expected award, degrees awarded, and honors awarded; meaning this information may be released to upon request.

Students can give permission for private information to be released in two ways using the Student Permission to Release Academic Records Form:

• Students can grant permission to release any available academic records related to academic advising (e.g., grades, academic standing, etc.) that the University maintains to a named recipient for one academic year.
  • If a student chooses this option they need to submit the completed form to their academic advisor.
    
• Students can grant permission for the release of one specific document (e.g., transcript) to a named recipient.
  • If a student chooses this option they need to submit the completed form to the Registrar’s Office.
    

Parents can request one specific document be released to them (e.g., transcript), in the event the Student Permission to Release Academic Records Form is unable to be provided, if the student is carried as a legal dependent on their most recent Federal Income Taxes. To do so the parent must complete the Parent Affidavit & Request for Student Academic information Form and submit it to the Registrar’s Office.

Public information may be restricted by completion of the Student Limitation of Directory Information Form. The completed form must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office with a photo ID, or a copy of a photo Id if faxed or emailed.