Why can't I have access to my son/daughter's information?

 

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act or better known as FERPA (20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99) is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. The law applies to all schools that receive funds under an applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education.

 

FERPA gives parents certain rights with respect to their children's education records. These rights however transfer to the student when he or she reaches the age of 18 or attends a school beyond the high school level.

 

 

 

What does this mean to me as a parent?

 

Generally, at the university level, the university must have written permission from the eligible student in order to release any information from a student's education record to any person other than the student, including parents or legal guardians.

 

 

 

Can my son or daughter choose to give me access to their information?

 

A student that wishes so can give access to their educational records to any person by signing a written consent. This consent will remain in force until the student rescinds it. A student wishing to sign this consent can find the form in our Financial Aid Forms section found in the Toolbox. The form must be signed and submitted by the student at the Financial Aid office.

 

For more information regarding FERPA, please click here