Ferpa guidelines for students at The University of Alabama.

1. FERPAFERPA forfor
StudentsStudents
What Every UA Student Should KnowWhat Every UA Student Should Know
Prepared by the Office of Academic Records & University Registrar

2. What isWhat is
FERPA?FERPA?
 The Family Educational Rights and Privacy ActThe Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
affords students certain rights concerning theiraffords students certain rights concerning their
student educational records. The law is alsostudent educational records. The law is also
known as FERPA.known as FERPA.
 You have a right to gain access to and challengeYou have a right to gain access to and challenge
the content of your educational records.the content of your educational records.

3. Student Records and FERPAStudent Records and FERPA
 UA complies fully with the Federal FamilyUA complies fully with the Federal Family
Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
which governs access to, and confidentialitywhich governs access to, and confidentiality
of, student records.of, student records.
As a means of complying with this act, theAs a means of complying with this act, the
University has developed detailedUniversity has developed detailed UA PolicyUA Policy
on Confidentiality of Recordson Confidentiality of Records, available on the, available on the
web @web @ http://registrar.ua.eduhttp://registrar.ua.edu..

4. Student Rights RelatingStudent Rights Relating
to Educational Recordsto Educational Records
As a student, you have a right to expect thatAs a student, you have a right to expect that
information in your educational records (includinginformation in your educational records (including
computerized records) will be kept confidential andcomputerized records) will be kept confidential and
will be disclosed only with your permission or aswill be disclosed only with your permission or as
allowed by law.allowed by law.
For example:
 Grades
 Enrollment records
 Schedules
 Class Lists
 CWID (compus wide identification number)
 SSN (social security number)

5. Student Rights Relating toStudent Rights Relating to
Educational RecordsEducational Records (continued)(continued)
 When you reach the age of 18 or begin attending aWhen you reach the age of 18 or begin attending a
post-secondary institution regardless of age, FERPApost-secondary institution regardless of age, FERPA
rights transfer to you--the student. This limits therights transfer to you--the student. This limits the
student educational record information that may bestudent educational record information that may be
released to third parties without your writtenreleased to third parties without your written
permission unless it is “directory information.”permission unless it is “directory information.”

6.  You have the right to inspect and review yourYou have the right to inspect and review your
educational records; seek amendment of the recordseducational records; seek amendment of the records
you believe to be inaccurate, misleading, oryou believe to be inaccurate, misleading, or
otherwise in violation of your privacy rights;otherwise in violation of your privacy rights;
consent to disclosures of confidential informationconsent to disclosures of confidential information
except to the extent that the law permits disclosureexcept to the extent that the law permits disclosure
without your consent; and file a complaintwithout your consent; and file a complaint
concerning alleged failures of the University toconcerning alleged failures of the University to
comply with the law.comply with the law.
Student Rights Relating to
Educational Records (continued)

7. Directory InformationDirectory Information
FERPA identifies a category of information as “directoryFERPA identifies a category of information as “directory
information,” which institutions may usually release withoutinformation,” which institutions may usually release without
student permission.student permission.
For example:For example:
 Student’s name, addresses, and telephone numbersStudent’s name, addresses, and telephone numbers
 Current enrollment status or dates of attendanceCurrent enrollment status or dates of attendance
 Class/level, school/college, major/degree programClass/level, school/college, major/degree program
 Academic awards and honorsAcademic awards and honors
 Athletic preparationAthletic preparation

8. Directory InformationDirectory Information
(continued)(continued)
 If you wish to restrict release of any or allIf you wish to restrict release of any or all
“directory information,” you may do so through“directory information,” you may do so through
your myBama account. Theyour myBama account. The ‘Update Directory‘Update Directory
Information/Confidentiality Hold’Information/Confidentiality Hold’ is locatedis located
in the Student Services folder under Studentin the Student Services folder under Student
Records in Banner Self-Service.Records in Banner Self-Service.

9. Disclosures Without ConsentDisclosures Without Consent
FERPA permits the release ofFERPA permits the release of somesome informationinformation
without student permission. For example:without student permission. For example:
 To school officials with legitimate educational interests – mustTo school officials with legitimate educational interests – must
have ahave a need-to-knowneed-to-know
 To comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoenaTo comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena
(after appropriate notice to the student)(after appropriate notice to the student)
 To appropriate parties in aTo appropriate parties in a health or safety emergencyhealth or safety emergency, such as, such as
parents, University Police, Student Health Center.parents, University Police, Student Health Center.
 To officials of another school, in which a student seeks orTo officials of another school, in which a student seeks or
intends to enroll (intends to enroll (UA’s practiceUA’s practice is to release transcripts basedis to release transcripts based
on student request.)on student request.)

10. Disclosures Without ConsentDisclosures Without Consent
(continued)(continued)
 In connection with financial aid for which the student hasIn connection with financial aid for which the student has
applied or received, if the information is necessary toapplied or received, if the information is necessary to
determine eligibility for aid, the amount of the aid, thedetermine eligibility for aid, the amount of the aid, the
conditions for the aid, or to enforce the terms andconditions for the aid, or to enforce the terms and
conditions of the aidconditions of the aid
 To certain government officials in connection with state orTo certain government officials in connection with state or
federally supported education programsfederally supported education programs
 To accrediting organizationsTo accrediting organizations
 To attorneys representing UATo attorneys representing UA
 To organizations conducting certain studies for or onTo organizations conducting certain studies for or on
behalf of the University (with certain conditions)behalf of the University (with certain conditions)

11. Important note: This presentation is
intended to raise awareness and give
general information about FERPA and to
acquaint you with some of the privacy issues
surrounding students' educational records. It
is not intended as nor is it a substitute for
legal advice on any particular issue.

12. For additional information on FERPA andFor additional information on FERPA and
UA’s guidelines, see the Office ofUA’s guidelines, see the Office of
Academic Records & UniversityAcademic Records & University
Registrar’s website @:Registrar’s website @:
http://registrar.ua.eduhttp://registrar.ua.edu