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The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

FERPA Information for Faculty

Rights of Students

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect to their education records.  These rights include:

  1. The right to inspect and review the student’s educational records within 45 days of the day the University receives a request for access.

    If the student is a current student, it is the policy of the University that the student may review his/her file upon showing identification to the Registrar’s Office.  Former students should submit to the registrar written requests that identify the record(s) they wish to inspect.  The Registrar will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected.

  2. The right to request the amendment of the student’s educational records of which the student believes is inaccurate.

    Students may ask the University to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate.  They should write the Registrar, clearly identifying the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate.  Any dispute concerning grades is not amendable through FERPA.

    If the University decides not to amend the record as requested by the student, the University will notify the student of the decision and advise the student of his or her right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment.  Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the student when notified of the right to a hearing.

  3. The right to consent to disclosure of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s educational records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.

    One exception, which permits disclosure without consent, is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests.  A school official is a person employed by the University in an administrative, supervisory, academic or research, or support staff position (including law enforcement unit personnel and health staff); a person serving on the Board of Trustees; the National Student Clearinghouse; or a student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks.

    A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility.

    The university is also permitted to disclose the education records of a student to another school without consent, if the student receives services from the other school.  This would include records of students who are enrolled in a collaborative program resulting in dual enrollment in Shippensburg University and another institution of higher education.

  4. 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.  The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA are:

Directory information at Shippensburg University is name, home and local address and phone number, enrollment status, email address, major, degree and honors.  If a student does not want this information released, he/she must inform the Registrar’s Office of this request.  A Release of Information form can be completed in the Registrar’s Office or the request can be made online after logging in to our secure website.  If a student initiates a request that directory information is not to be released, he/she must realize that any request for verification of attendance, graduation, dean’s list, etc. from any outside source will be denied.
 
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