St. Edward’s University
Office of the Registrar
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) Information

The Family Education and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal regulation that covers access to and release of academic records held by post secondary institutions. Students and their families are usually concerned with two main provisions of the Act, 1) access to their records and 2) releasing information contained in their records. In the first instance the Act states that students the right to inspect and review their educational record. They also have the right to request corrections to substantive errors contained in their records by making a formal request to do so. In the second instance institutions are prohibited by the Act from releasing certain information contained in student academic records defined as non-directory information without having the student’s permission to do so.

FERPA allows the institution to release directory information at its discretion without the student’s permission. St. Edward’s University defines directory information as the following:

name; permanent and local addresses;  e-mail addresses;  phone numbers;  place of birth, major, minor or certificate;  class; anticipated degree and completion date; degree and date conferred; dates of attendance; current and previously registered hours; previously attend institutions; photos/images; officially recognized sports participation; height and weight of team members; awards; and honors.

 

The institution may not release non-directory information without the student’s permission. Non-directory information includes but is not limited to the following (specific exceptions to this rule are identified by FERPA, for a list of these exceptions please contact the Registrar’s Office):
               

               grades; G.P.A.; attendance; earned hours; student ID number and social security number.

 

Students at St. Edward’s University are given the opportunity to choose to restrict the release of non-directory information or specify to whom they wish to share their non-directory information with.  This may be done by completing the FERPA authorization page within the student EdWeb account. Your authorization(s) will remain in force until you change them, or are no longer an active student.

Students also have the right to restrict the release of all information, both directory and non-directory information. Invoking a full FERPA information hold is a serious step with significant consequences and is only recommended in extreme situations. Should you wish to pursue this action contact the Office of the Registrar for the appropriate form.