The Federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974 gives students certain privacy rights regarding their educational records.

In general, this means that students need to give their permission for the release of information about their educational record, even to release information to parents.

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. This means that this information may only be released with the student’s permission.

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 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. This means that this information may be released upon request. Public information may be restricted by completion of the Student Limitation of Public 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 the form is faxed or emailed.