The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law designed to protect students' and their educational records.
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It also provides guidelines for appropriately using and sharing students' educational records.
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Information protected by FERPA includes...
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Transcripts
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Applications
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Personnel Files
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Financial Information
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Records (Academic/Personal)
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Conversations about student issues
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Generally, schools must
have written permission
from the student to
release information
from their record.
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However, FERPA allows schools to release certain information without a student's consent to certain parties.
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This includes (but is not limited to)...
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School officials with a legitimate educational interest
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Other schools to which a student is transferring
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Appropriate officials for health/safety emergencies
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Appropriate parties involved with student financial aid
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Compliance with a judicial order/lawfully issued subpoena
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FERPA has also identified other information, known as directory information, that may
be disclosed without a student's consent.
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This includes (but is not limited to)...
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Student Name
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Local or permanent address
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E-mail Address
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Phone Number
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Major of Study
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Classification/Expected Graduation Date
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You will likely encounter
confidential student
information in the course
of your everyday work
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So, how can you protect
students'
educational records?
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There are three
guidelines you
should follow:
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1. Do not disclose personally
identifiable information
about a student without
their written permission
unless it is allowed by one
of the previously
mentioned exceptions.
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2. Only access what you need to know
to do your job.
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3. Understand that FERPA
does not require you to
release student information;
it only allows it in certain
situations.
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Not sure if you should share
information with someone?