What is FERPA?
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law that protects student education records privacy. Postsecondary students, no matter their age, control access to their academic information.
Key Rules
Education records include grades, transcripts, financial aid information, and advising notes, for example. Additionally, FERPA protects other student information such as the social security number and address.
Directory Information
FERPA allows specific pieces of information to be disclosed without the student’s consent (unless the student opts out), identified as “Directory Information.” At FSW, Directory Information has been defined as including the following: Student name, Major, Dates of enrollment, Degrees and honors earned, Participation in officially recognized activities and sports, Enrollment status – whether full-time or part-time, Previous postsecondary institutions attended, Photographs, and Awards.
Employee Requirements
When working with students, FSW faculty and staff members must verify the student’s identity before sharing student records-related information. Additionally, FSW faculty and staff members must only discuss student records with authorized personnel who have a “legitimate educational interest.” Also required, FSW faculty and staff members must only use the official FSW-issued email address when corresponding with students.
FSW faculty and staff members must not discuss student educational records in public areas or with unauthorized people. Faculty must not post grades where students or others can see them. Remember, FERPA covers all postsecondary students no matter their age, thus a FERPA waiver is required before any discussion may take place with parents or anyone other than the student.
Questions?
Contact the Office of the Registrar at (239) 489-9222 or via email at Registrar@fsw.edu.