FERPA: Your Rights as a Student

Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), the federal law that governs release of and access to student education records. These rights include:

1. The right to inspect and review your education record within a reasonable time, but not more than 45 days, after the University receives a request for access. If you want to review your record, contact the Office of Records and Registration to make appropriate arrangements.
2. The right to request an amendment of your education record if you believe it is inaccurate, misleading or in violation of the student’s rights of privacy under FERPA. If you feel there is an error in your record, you should submit a statement to the Director of Records and Registration, clearly identifying the part of the record you want changed and why you believe it is inaccurate or misleading. That office will notify you of their decision and advise you regarding appropriate steps if you do not agree with the decision.
3. The right to consent to disclosure of personally identifiable information (PII) contained in your education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. One exception which permits disclosure without consent is disclosure to school officials with “legitimate educational interests.”  A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official has a “need to know” information from your education record in order to fulfill his or her official responsibilities. Examples of people who may  have access to your education record, depending on their official duties, and only within the context of  those duties, include: University faculty and staff, agents of the institution, students employed by the institution or who serve on official institutional committees, and representatives of agencies under contract with the University.
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. The name and address of the office that administers FERPA is:

Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202

Release of student record information is generally not done at Saint Xavier University without the express written consent of the student. There are, however, some exceptions.

For example, directory information includes the following, and may be released without the student’s consent:

• name
• address
• email address
• photo ID
• date and place of birth
• major
• honors
• awards
• participation in recognized activities and sports
• height and weight of athletes, class level
• dates of enrollment
• degrees conferred
• dates of conferral
• institutions attended prior to admission

Please note that you have the right to withhold the release of directory information. To do so, you must complete a Request to Opt Out of Directory Information Form, which is available from the Office of Records and Registration. Please note two important details regarding placing a “No Release” on your record:

1. The University receives many inquiries for directory information from a variety of sources outside the institution, including friends, parents, relatives, prospective employers, the news media and honor societies. Having a “No Release” on your record will preclude release of such information, even to those people.
2. A “No Release” applies to all elements of directory information on your record including deans lists and commencement program booklet. Saint Xavier University does not apply a “No Release” differentially to the various directory information data elements.

A copy of the act, more details about your rights, and any University policies related to the act are available from the Office of Records and Registration.

Questions concerning FERPA should be referred to the Office of Records and Registration at registrarFREESXU.