Student Records Privacy - FERPA

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect to their education records. These rights include:

1. The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days of the day the university receives a written request for access.
2. The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the student believes inaccurate or misleading.
3. The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.
4. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the university to comply with the requirements of FERPA.
5. Directory information may be released without the written consent from the student, unless the student specifies to the contrary as described below.

To withhold directory information from the public, the student normally must file a form available in the Office of the University Registrar within one week from the beginning of the fall semester (or the semester in which the students enters). The order for withholding will remain in effect until the student rescinds it in writing. The form for withholding directory information will inform the student of some possible consequences. For example, if the student’s name is withheld, he or she cannot participate in intercollegiate athletics where team rosters are published, or commencement ceremonies.

The complete FERPA policy is available at www.stthomas.edu/registrar/student/ferpa