FERPA WAIVER PROCESS FLOW CHART
= Existing and potential
bottlenecks and problems
STRENGTHS

An expert OSA staff person with clear
understanding of Banner Screens, and
experience instructing advisers

Strong basic information on the OSA
FERPA website
WEAKNESSES

Lack of: general staff, adviser, faculty,
technical Banner know-how, experience
handling complications; and sufficient
technical staff to consult

Lack of Standard and/or centralized
operating procedures; and staff exhaustion
due to staff shortages
OPPORTUNITIES
THREATS

Pace could become a peer leader model 
for other institutions
The current economic crisis resulting in
family alienation due to high tuition costs

Parents are more aware of need for

interaction with university officials due
to the current economic climate
Legal complications demanding close
scrutiny and possible delays with any
change in procedure
MAN
•Too many university
university offices
handling questions
causing bottlenecks
•Lack of liaisons to
consult with staff,
advisers and faculty
on FERPA compliance
compliance issues
•Staff, Advisers,
Faculty, untrained on
on FERPA Banner
screen
MACHINE
METHOD
MATERIAL
•Banner Screen
inaccessible or not
understandable for
some faculty and staff
staff
•Lack of standard
operating procedures
procedures for all
faculty and staff to
follow
•Need for userfriendly FERPA info,
online and in hands of
of faculty/staff
•Lack of quick access
access by students and
and parents to FERPA
FERPA web form
•Inconsistent
communication of
waiver process at
orientation
•Webpage needs
simpler format for
completing waiver
•No standard
operating procedure
procedure for students
students to complete
complete waiver
•Need for FERPA
form simple, clear
instructions
THE RESULT:
Parents and Students perceive Pace University as inept
as inept and uncaring, with possible impact on

CLARKSON

Web FERPA form, tutorial, basics link, releasable directory info is releasable without consent

CORNELL

“Family Guide to incoming Parents and Students”

LONG ISLAND UNIVERSITY

Website is immediate and direct , listed on their homepage alongside campus security

MONTCLAIR

Info listed in 'Spotlight' section of Financial Aid page, and on featured parents link

NEW YORK UNIVERSITY

Homepage Policies & Guidelines link, info video, link to a FERPA tutorial and contacts

SUNY NEW PALTZ

Undergraduate Student Advising Handbook, and online class Schedule (Portal)

UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA

20 minute comprehensive online course geared clarifying FERPA.

UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER

Parent's Link on the home page, accessible in 3 clicks:
 Increase # students aware of waiver and its importance
 Increase # students making decision re: sign waiver or not
 Earlier informing student of pros and cons of signing the waiver
 Earlier student decisions regarding signing of waiver
 Increase # staff /faculty w/detailed knowledge of waiver process
 Increase # staff /faculty aware accessing Banner Waiver screen
 Faster posting of waiver decision in Banner
Objectives:
•Earlier information packets re: FERPA – from recruitment, to admission, to
orientation
•Designate central location to handle FERPA general information for staff and
families
•Preliminary FERPA training for professional and faculty advisers, re:
communicating, expediting, tracking, completion of waiver forms
•Better upfront placement of Waiver form on Pace website
•More user friendly, easier accessible FERPA web pages
Assessment: (to verify the extent of the problem and potential solutions)
•Random sample survey of students and staff to determine waiver knowledge
and/or status
•Survey of students already having a FERPA waiver notation in Banner
•Random Focus groups of students , staff and stakeholders