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What is FERPA?
The
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, also known as the
Buckley Amendment, helps protect the privacy of student education
records. The Act provides for the right to inspect and review education
records, the right to seek to amend those records, and the right to
limit disclosure of information from the records. The intent of the
legislation is to protect the rights of students and to ensure the
privacy and accuracy of education records. The Act applies to all
institutions that are recipients of federal aid administered by the
Secretary of Education.
Who is protected under FERPA?
Students,
who are currently or formerly enrolled, regardless of their age or
status in regard to parental dependency, are protected. Students who
have applied to, but have not attended Greenville College , and
deceased students do not come under FERPA guidelines.
What are education records?
With
certain exceptions, an education record is any record (1) from which a
student can be personally identified and (2) maintained by the college.
Education records include any records in whatever medium (handwriting,
computer media, print, e-mail, magnetic tape, film, diskette, microfilm
and microfiche, video or audio tape, etc.) in the possession of any
school official.
What is considered Directory Information?
Directory
Information is information that is generally not considered harmful or
an invasion of privacy if disclosed. Under the terms of FERPA,
Greenville College , has established the following as directory
information:
• Parents' names and addresses
• Student's name, address(es) and telephone numbers
• Date and place of birth
• Participation in officially recognized activities and sports
• Dates of attendance
• Major field(s) of study
• Degrees and awards received
• Denominational or religious preference
• Most recent previous school attended
• Athletic team members: height, weight and position played
• Photographs (non-captioned)
The
previous information may be released for any purpose at the discretion
of our institution. However, FERPA states that each student has the
right to withhold any or all of the information. Greenville College
will honor the student's request to restrict the release of “Directory
Information.” Once restricted, that information cannot be released
without the written consent of the student. A student may make such a
request in the Records Office.
Parental Access To Children's Education Records
At
the postsecondary level, parents have no inherent right to inspect a
student's education records. The right to inspect is limited solely to
the student. Records may be released to parents ONLY under the
following circumstances: (1) through the written consent of the
student, (2) in compliance with a subpoena, or (3) by producing a copy
of the most recent Federal Income Tax form showing that the student was
claimed as a dependent.
Posting Of Grades By Faculty
The
public posting of grades either by the student's name, student
identification number, or social security number without the student's
written permission is a violation of FERPA. Even with names obscured,
student identifier numbers are considered personally identifiable
information. Therefore, the practice of posting grades by social
security number or student identification number violates FERPA. The
returning of papers via an “open” distribution system, e.g., stacking
them on an open table, is a violation of a student's right to privacy,
unless the student submits a signed waiver to the instructor for such
purpose. The instructor must keep the waiver on file in order to avoid
institutional or personal liability.
Faculty Sending Grades Via E-Mail
There
is no guarantee of confidentiality in transmitting information
electronically via campus e-mail or through the Internet. Faculty who
wish to send grades to students via e-mail need to understand that if
there is an unauthorized release of grades to someone who is not a
school official, the institution would be in violation of FERPA, if the
student whose grades were illegally disclosed filed a complaint with
the Family Policy Compliance Office. Blackboard, however, is a secure
site where students can access their grades electronically. Submission
of grades through Jenzabar is a secure transmission.
Can You Include Grade Information When Writing A Letter Of Recommendation?
Written
permission of the student is required if any information included in
the recommendation is an “education record” (grades, GPA, and other
non-directory information). Personal observations about the student are
acceptable comments that can be included in the recommendation without
the student's written permission.
Related Forms
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