Maureen Cronin
Associate Registrar for DARS
University of Nevada, Reno
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FERPA is sometimes called the Buckley
Amendment. Passed by Congress in 1974, the
Act grants four specific rights to the adult
student:
1. The right to see the information that the institution is
keeping on the student.
2. The right to seek amendment to those records and in
certain cases append a statement to the record.
3. The right to consent to disclosure of his/her records.
4. The right to file a complaint with the FERPA Office in
Washington.
The institution annually notifies students of their privacy
rights in the catalog.
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Just about any information provided by a
student to the university for use in the
educational process is considered a student
educational record:
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Personal information.
Enrollment records.
Grades.
Schedules.
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The storage media in which you find this
information does not matter. Student
educational record may be:
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A document in the registrar’s office.
A computer printout in your office.
A class list on your desktop.
A computer display screen.
Notes you have taken during an advisement
session.
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Are made by one person as an individual
observation or recollection, are kept in the
possession of the maker, and are only shared
with a temporary substitute.
◦ Sole possession has always been narrowly defined.
◦ Sharing notes with another person or putting them
in a place where others have access makes them an
educational record.
◦ If you don’t want it to be reviewed, don’t write it
down.
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Sole possession records that are kept in the
sole possession of the creator.
Law enforcement unit records.
Employment records.
Medical records.
Post-attendance records.
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Student educational records are considered
confidential and may not be released without
the written consent of the student.
As a faculty or staff member you have a
responsibility to protect educational records
in your possession.
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Some information is considered directory
information. This info can be released
without the student’s written permission.
However, the student may opt to consider
this information private as well. So while
directory information is generally considered
to be:
◦ name, address, email address, phone, dates of
attendance, degrees received, major program,
height/weight of student athletes, enrollment
status, campus, school, college, division, class
standing, and awards…
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That you DO NOT release ANY information to
ANY third party.
Instead refer requests for directory
information to our office, 784-4700.
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You have access to information only for
legitimate use in the completion of your
responsibilities as a university employee.
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Do NOT at any time use the Social Security
Number or university ID number of a student
in a public posting of grades.
Never link the name of a student with that
student’s SSN or university ID in any public
manner.
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Never leave graded tests in a stack for
students to pick up. Ask students to provide
a self-addressed stamped envelope for return
of graded work.
Never discuss the progress of any student
with anyone other than the student (including
parents) without the consent of the student.
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Never provide anyone with lists of students
enrolled in your classes for any commercial
purpose.
Never provide student schedules or assist
anyone other than university employees with
finding a student on campus.
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Do not send confidential information (grades)
via email. It is not considered secure.
◦ Grades are posted and available on ePAWS not more
than 48 hours after they are received in the Office
of Admissions and Records.
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Are available to the instructor of record for
each course.
Provide name, ID, NetID, credits, standing,
major, section, phone number, email address.
Student name links to class schedule and ID
photo.
Information can be exported to Excel.
Link to mid-term progress report on the left.
Functionality to email selected individuals or
the entire class.