FERPA

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act -- FERPA

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is the federal law ((20 U.S.C. §1232g; 34 CFR Part 99) that protects the privacy of student educational records.  The law applies to all schools (including the University of Wyoming) that receive funds under an applicable program of the U.S, Department of Education. Congress enacted FERPA (commonly known as the "Buckley Amendment") in 1974.  FERPA provides certain rights to parents with respect to their children's educational records.  The rights transfer to the student when he/she reaches the age of 18 or attends a school beyond the high school level.  The rights include:

• The right to inspect and review their education records

•  The right to request to amendment of misleading or inaccurate records;

•  The right to consent to the disclosure of personally identifiable information contained in the record

• The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning an alleged failure of the school to comply with the FERPA law.

Generally schools must have written permission from the parent or eligible student in order to release any information from a student's education records.  However, FERPA does allow schools to disclose records, without consent, to certain parties under the following condition;

• School officials with legitimate educational interest;

• Other schools to which a student is transferring;

• Specified officials for audit or evaluation purposes;

• Appropriate parties in connection with financial aid to a student;

•  Organizations conduction certain studies for or on behalf of the school;

• Accrediting organizations;

• To comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena;

• Appropriate officials in cases of health and safety emergencies;

• State and local authorities, within a juvenile justice system, pursuant to specific State law.

Schools may also disclose "directory" information without consent from parents or students.  Directory information is generally name, address, telephone number, dates of enrollment and other student enrollment and degree information. Students may restrict the release of their directory information by completing a "Confidentiality of Student Records" form which is available from the Registrar's office. To review the "directory" information, which the University of Wyoming provides, and to find out more about restricting access to "directory" information, consult FERPA: A Student's Right to Privacy.

Useful FERPA Links

University of Wyoming – Office of the Registrar – FERPA: A Student's Right to Privacy

University of Wyoming – Office of the Registrar – FERPA Faculty and Staff Information

U.S. Department of Education -- Family Compliance Office – FERPA

Last Updated on 5/14/2008 10:06:30 AM