Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. The law applies to all schools that receive funds under an applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education.
FERPA gives parents certain rights with respect to their children's education records. These rights transfer to the student when he or she reaches the age of 18 or attends a school beyond the high school level. Students to whom the rights have transferred are "eligible students."
FERPA allows but does not mandate the release of directory information which includes:
- Name
- Current address*
- Phone number*
- Major
- Dates of attendance
- Enrollment
- Degree and date received
- Previous education institutions attended
- Eligibility and participation in officially recognized activities and sports
*Current address and phone number are considered restricted directory information. These items are only released if a legitimate educational interest is established.
Non-directory information is never released without the student's official authorization. These items include but are not limited to:
- Enrollment verification
- Grade point average (GPA)
- Academic standing
- Grades or transcripts
Waiver of Academic Privacy
Students must submt the Waiver of Academic Privacy (PDF opens in new window) before the College will release the students academic record to a third-party.