Privacy of Student Records (FERPA)
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a United States federal law that protects the accuracy and privacy of students' education records. Each student has the right to:
Access
Inspect and review his/her education records within 45 days of submitting a request.
Amend
- Request changes to his/her education records if inaccurate or misleading information is found.
- Be invited to a hearing if his/her request is not granted.
- Store a statement of inaccuracy with his/her records if the School still decides to not amend the records.
Non-Disclosure
Non-disclosure of his/her education records except with his/her written consent or in certain circumstances designated by the act, such as the release of Directory Information.
The University is obligated to notify students of these rights at least once a year.
Penalty for Lack of Compliance
Failure to comply with FERPA regulations could result in the loss of any or all federal funding.
More Information
The information provided above is simplified to make FERPA easier to understand. For more details:
FERPA
- US Department of Education:
- US National Archives and Records Administration: Title 34, Part 99: Family Educational Rights and Privacy
University of California
- 130.00 Policies Applying to the Disclosure of Information from Student Records (PDF, 18 pages, 181 KB)
Go To: About Privacy
If a Violation Occurred
If you know or suspect that a FERPA violation occurred:
If You Are an Employee
Contact your supervisor to resolve the problem. If you're not satisfied with your supervisor's response, contact the Whistleblower Coordinator.
If You Are a Student
Contact the office which administers your degree program to resolve the problem. Also see Procedures for Seeking the Correction of Student Records and Policy on Student Grievance Procedures. If you're not satisfied with that office's response, see FERPA General Guidance for Students.
