FERPA
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
This tutorial is designed to inform you of the rules
governing the release of student information
What is FERPA?
FERPA stands for the Family Educational
Rights and Privacy Act (also called the
Buckley Amendment). Passed by Congress
in 1974, the Act regulates the release of all
educational records.
FERPA Gives Students
Five Rights:
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consent to the disclosure of their education
records.
seek the amendment of education records.
inspect and review their own education records.
obtain a copy of the school’s FERPA policy
file a complaint with the FERPA Office in
Washington, D.C.
What Are
Education Records?
Education records, as defined by FERPA, include
all records which are related to a student’s
education and maintained by UW-Stout.
Educational records may be:
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A computer printout in your office
A class list on your desk
A computer display screen
Notes you have taken during an advisement
session
Education Records
Do Not Include:
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Personal notes by faculty/staff which are not
shared with others
Law enforcement/public safety records
Records related to treatment by a health care
professional used only for medical/health
treatment of the student
Access to Student
Education Records
Under no circumstances can confidential(nondirectory) education records be released without a
student’s prior written consent or Legitimate
Educational Interest.
Legitimate Educational
Interest
Exists when the school official is:
 performing a task that is specified in his/her
position description or contract
 performing a task related to student’s education
or to student discipline
 providing a service or benefit to the student
 maintaining safety and security on campus
Directory Information
Directory Information is considered public
and can be released without the student’s
written permission.
UW Stout’s
Directory Information
Directory information at UW-Stout is defined as:
1. Name
2. Address
3. E-mail address
4. Telephone number
5. Date of birth
6. Major field of study
Directory Information
(cont’d)
7. Dates of attendance
8. Participation in officially recognized activities
and sports
9. Height and weight of student athletes
10. Degrees and awards received
11. The most recent previous educational agency
or institution attended
Restricting Directory
Information
A student has the option to request that NO
directory information be released by filling out a
restriction form with the UW-Stout Registrar.
This form must be filed each academic year.
If the student elects to have directory information
remain confidential, NO INFORMATION CAN BE
RELEASED!
For Faculty
To avoid violations of FERPA, do not:
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Link the name of a student with that student’s
social security number
Provide anyone with lists of students enrolled in
your classes for commercial purposes
Provide anyone with student schedules or
assist anyone other than university employees
in finding a student on campus
Things to Remember…
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Access to Student Information System does
NOT authorize unrestricted use of student data
Records should be used only in the context of
official business in conjunction with the
educational success of the student
Curiosity does NOT qualify as a legal right to
know
If you are ever in doubt, do not release any
information until you contact the Registration and
Records Office
UW-Stout FERPA Policy
For additional information on UW-Stout’s
FERPA policy, please contact the
Registration and Records Office
Phone: (715)232-2121
registrar@uwstout.edu