FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) is the federal law that protects a student's rights to privacy and grants students access to their academic records kept at postsecondary institutions.

An academic record is personally identifiable to the student and maintained by the institution.

A student's FERPA rights begin when the student having registered and paid, attends his or her first class. 

Current and former students have the right to inspect their academic records.   The institution has up to 45 days to comply to this request.

Directory information is the information approved by the University, under FERPA regulations, that can be released about the student without the student's written authorization.   If the student has requested an "Information Suppression" on their records, no information, including directory information, may be released.

The University has determined that the following information is classified as directory information and may be released without the written authorization of the student:

Employees of the University with a legitimate educational interest and a demonstrated "need to know" basis may view a student's academic record without the written authorization of the student. Although student workers may be considered employed by the University, the University discourages giving student workers tasks that involve viewing confidential student records.

Written consent from the student must be provided before any non-directory information is released.   When a student begins attending a postsecondary institution, FERPA rights no longer automatically extend to the parents.   Without written authorization of the student, parents (spouses and/or other family members) do not have FERPA rights to review academic records.

Student academic information should be treated as confidential and protected from unauthorized access.   To prevent unauthorized access to student records computer terminals should not be left unattended while the "user password" is logged in, nor should files or grade rosters be left unattended.

Final grades, test scores, grade and/or class rosters should never be posted or left in public view.   Grades/Scores cannot be posted by using a student's social security number or ID number.

Third party request for student information - directory or not - should be approved through the Office of the Registrar.