The Family Educational
Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (also known as
FERPA or the Buckley Amendment) provides students
and former students with certain rights with respect
to their education records. They are:
1.
The right to
inspect and review the student's education
records within 45 days of the day the University
receives a request for access.
2.
The right to
request the amendment of the student's education
records that the student believes are inaccurate
or misleading.
3.
The right to
consent to disclosures of personally identifiable
information contained in the student's education
records, except to the extent that FERPA
authorizes disclosure without consent.
4.
Generally, schools
must have written permission from the student
before releasing any information from a
student's educational record. However, the
law allows schools to disclose records,
without consent of the student, to the following
parties:
•
University employees
who have a legitimate need to know
•
Parents of dependent
students as defined by the Internal Revenue
Code
•
Persons who need
to know in cases of health and safety emergencies
•
Accrediting organizations
to carry out accrediting functions
•
Appropriate parties
in connection with financial aid to a student
•
Federal, State
and local governmental officials for purposes
authorized by law
•
Individuals who
have lawfully obtained court orders or subpoenas
•
Organizations
conducting educational studies for the University
•
Other schools
to which a student is applying or transferring
•
Student's high
school or other schools previously attended
(for evaluation purposes only)
•
Courts during
litigation between the University and the
student or parent
•
Victim of crime
of violence after final results of a disciplinary
hearing
•
Public after
disciplinary proceedings detemine student
committed crime of violence
5.
The right to
file a complaint with the U.S. Department
of Education concerning alleged failures
by the University to comply with the requirements
of FERPA.
Family Policy Compliance
Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20202-4605
Normally, directory
information may be disclosed without the student's
consent and includes the following information:
•
name
•
campus and home
address and telephone numbers
•
class standing
•
date and place
of birth
•
major
•
participation
in officially recognized activities and
sports
•
dates of attendance
•
degrees and awards
received
•
the most recent
previous educational institution attended
by the student
However,
under specific circumstances, a student may restrict
even the release of this information through the
Registrar's Office by completing the "Request
to Prevent Disclosure of Directory Information"
form. The request will remain in effect unless
changed by the student. If directory information
is restricted for a particular student, the computer
files will be notated when you access the records.
This confidentiality request extends to omitting
the student's e-mail address in mass mailings.
E-mail should be sent as a blind copy to prevent
others from accessing the address.
Care should
be taken when working with confidential academic
information, whether viewed on a computer screen,
on a printout, or other format. A student's permission
is required before an advisor discusses academic
information with an outside party, such as a parent
or spouse. Any questions regarding the confidentiality
or release of student records should be referred
to the Registrar.
University
of South Alabama-
Mobile
Alabama 36688-0002 / 1 (251) 460-6101
For
questions or comments Contact
Us
Last date changed:
July 31, 2003 12:30 PM
http://www.southalabama.edu/advisingmanual/studentsright.html
