探花精选

Purpose

Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), institutions can tag some student data as directory information. Data tagged as directory information may be released at the institution鈥檚 discretion for government-mandated reporting, news releases, and other purposes it believes serve students鈥� best interests.

As stalking and identity theft have become more prevalent in recent years, the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) has recommended institutions revisit their directory information policy and consider removing information that could benefit malicious actors.

To that end, this policy recommends removing two items from the directory information policy:

Local and home addresses
Date and place of birth

These data will still be collected by the institution for internal use or through government-mandated reporting, but this update would make them inaccessible through a generic directory information request.

The 探花精选 policy library currently lists FERPA under All Policies. This proposal would also seek to cross list it under Student Policies as well.

Scope

This policy applies to the University鈥檚 official FERPA policy and impacts all student, faculty, staff, and administrators.

Policy

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act

In conformance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (the Buckley Amendment), 探花精选 has established a system to ensure that students have complete access to their educational records and the right to challenge information they believe to be inaccurate or misleading. Information about these procedures can be obtained from the Office of the Registrar. Unless specifically prohibited by the student, 探花精选 may release 鈥渄irectory information鈥� at its discretion for government-mandated reporting, news releases, and other purposes that it believes serve the student鈥檚 interest. This includes:

• Full name
• Local and home telephone numbers
• Email address
• Most recent educational institution attended
• Enrollment status
• Class level
• Dates of attendance
• Degrees, awards, and honors received
• Participation in officially recognized activities and sports
• Weight and height of athletic team members
• Photographs

Students may withhold information from some of these disclosure requests by editing FERPA options within their student portal during the first week of each term. All written requests for non-disclosure will be honored by the university for only one term; therefore, authorization to withhold student information must be filed during each term of attendance. Students have a right to voice any concerns to the U.S. Department of Education.

FERPA permits the disclosure of Personally Identifiable Information (PII) from students鈥� education records, without consent of the student, if the disclosure meets certain conditions found in 搂99.31 of the FERPA regulations. Except for disclosures to school officials, disclosures related to some judicial orders or lawfully issued subpoenas, disclosures of directory information, and disclosures to the student, 搂99.32 of FERPA regulations requires the institution to record the disclosure. Eligible students have a right to inspect and review the record of disclosures. A postsecondary institution may disclose PII from the education records without obtaining prior written consent of the student

• To other school officials, including teachers, within 探花精选 system whom the school has determined to have legitimate educational interests. This includes contractors, consultants, volunteers, or other parties to whom the school has outsourced institutional services or functions, provided that the conditions listed in 搂99.31(a)(1)(i)(B)(1) – (a)(1)(i)(B)(3) are met. (搂99.31(a)(1))
• To officials of another school where the student seeks or intends to enroll, or where the student is already enrolled if the disclosure is for purposes related to the student鈥檚 enrollment or transfer, subject to the requirements of 搂99.34. (搂99.31(a)(2))
• To authorized representatives of the U.S. comptroller general, the U.S. attorney general, the U.S. secretary of education, or state and local educational authorities, such as a state post-secondary authority that is responsible for supervising the university鈥檚 state-supported education programs. Disclosures under this provision may be made, subject to the requirements of 搂99.35, in connection with an audit or evaluation of federal- or state-supported education programs, or for the enforcement of or compliance with Federal legal requirements that relate to those programs. These entities may make further disclosures of PII to outside entities that are designated by them as their authorized representatives to conduct any audit, evaluation, or enforcement or compliance activity on their behalf. (搂99.31(a)(3) and 搂99.35)
• In connection with financial aid for which the student has applied or which the student has received, if the information is necessary to determine eligibility for the aid, determine the amount of the aid, determine the conditions of the aid, or enforce the terms and conditions of the aid. (搂99.31(a)(4))
• To organizations conducting studies for, or on behalf of, the school, in order to: (a) develop, validate, or administer predictive tests; (b) administer student aid programs; or (c) improve instruction. (搂99.31(a)(6))
• To accrediting organizations to carry out their accrediting functions. (搂99.31(a)(7))
• To parents of an eligible student if the student is a dependent for IRS tax purposes. (搂99.31(a)(8))
• To comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena. (搂99.31(a)(9))
• To appropriate officials in connection with a health or safety emergency, subject to 搂99.36. (搂99.31(a)(10))
• If it is information the school has designated as 鈥渄irectory information鈥� under 搂99.37. (搂99.31(a)(11))
• To a victim of an alleged perpetrator of a crime of violence or a non-forcible sex offense, subject to the requirements of 搂99.39. The disclosure may only include the final results of the disciplinary proceeding with respect to that alleged crime or offense, regardless of the finding. (搂99.31(a)(13))
• To the general public, the final results of a disciplinary proceeding, subject to the requirements of 搂99.39, if the school determines the student is an alleged perpetrator of a crime of violence or non-forcible sex offense and the student has committed a violation of the school鈥檚 rules or policies with respect to the allegation made against the student. (搂99.31(a)(14))
• To parents of a student regarding the student鈥檚 violation of any federal, state, or local law, or of any rule or policy of the school, governing the use or possession of alcohol or a controlled substance if the school determines the student committed a disciplinary violation and the student is under the age of 21. (搂99.31(a)(15))

Definitions

• A 鈥渟chool official鈥� is not defined in the statute or regulations, 探花精选 interprets the term to include parties such as: professors; instructors; administrators; health staff; counselors; attorneys; clerical staff; board members; members of committees and disciplinary boards; and a contractor, volunteer, or other party to whom the school has outsourced institutional services or functions.
• A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill a professional responsibility.