Skidmore College FERPA Family Education Rights Privacy Act

Skidmore College FERPA Family Education Rights & Privacy Act What is FERPA? Student FERPA Rights • It is the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974. • The right to inspect and review their own educational records. • Is also referred to as the Buckley Amendment. • The right to seek and amend education records. • FERPA is enforced by the U. S. Department of Educations’ Family Policy Compliance Office. • The right to have some control over the disclosure of information from the education records.

Skidmore College FERPA Family Education Rights & Privacy Act When do FERPA Rights Begin for a Student? What are Education Records? • When the student is “in attendance” as defined by the institution. • Records that are directly related to a student and are maintained by the institution. • For Skidmore College that means when the student has paid an enrollment deposit. • These records can exist in any media form: handwritten, print, computer generated, film, tape, email, etc.

Skidmore College FERPA Family Education Rights & Privacy Act Why Comply with FERPA? • It is the Law. • Failure to comply could result in the withholding of Federal Funds, including Student Financial Aid. • It is Skidmore’s responsibility to hold student records in confidence in order to protect their privacy. What Information might be handled in a secure way? Any part of a student’s record that is not listed as “directory information” • Registration Forms • Financial Information • Social Security Number • Transcripts • Student Information displayed on your computer screen • Grades • Student Schedules • Class Assignments • Class Rosters

Skidmore College FERPA Family Education Rights & Privacy Act What information can be released? Forward all requests for student information to the Registrar’s Office • Directory Information (unless the student has placed a confidentiality hold on his/her record). • Information that the student has given written consent to release. • Information needed by employees with a legitimate educational interest. • Information needed by certain government agencies. What is “directory information”? • Is information that can be released without the student’s written consent (unless the student has placed a confidentiality hold on their record) - colleges, to some extent, can determine what information is classified as “directory information”. Directory Information at Skidmore includes: photographic image, name, address, telephone #, e-mail address, date & place of birth, major field of study, class year, participation in official sports & activities, weight & height of members of athletic teams, dates of attendance, enrollment status, degrees & awards received, and most recent previous educational institituition attended.

Skidmore College FERPA Family Education Rights & Privacy Act Who can access Non-Directory Student Information? REMEMBER When in doubt – don’t give it out! • ONLY Skidmore College employees who have a legitimate educational interest. • Access to Student Information via the Student System or other computer software does not authorize unrestricted use of that information. • No one, including parents, may obtain non-directory information unless Skidmore obtains a signed consent from the student. • Information on a computer should be treated with the same confidentiality as a paper copy. Legitimate Educational Interest A School official’s need to review student education information to fulfill a responsibility as part of his or her contract. • Curiousity is not a valid reason to view student information. • Records should only be used in the context of official business.

Skidmore College FERPA Family Education Rights & Privacy Act IMPORTANT • Do not leave confidential information displayed on an unattended computer. • Cover or put away papers that contain confidential informtion if you are going to step away from your desk. Forward all requests for student information to the Registrar’s Office. Record Disposal • Records containing social security numbers, grades or any nondirectory information about a student should be shredded, not just thrown in the garbage.

Skidmore College FERPA Family Education Rights & Privacy Act Hints for Faculty to Avoid FERPA Violations Please: • Do Not use the SSN/Student ID to post grades. • Do Not leave graded tests in a stack for students to sort through. • Do Not circulate a printed class list with Student Name and SSN/Student ID. • Do Not provide anyone with student schedules. • Do Not provide anyone with lists of students enrolled in your classes. • Do Not include confidential information (i. e. grades, # of credits) in a recommendation letter without the written consent of the student.

Skidmore College FERPA Family Education Rights & Privacy Act Thank you for your cooperation in protecting the privacy of our students! If you have further questions, please contact the Registrar’s Office at 518 -580 -5710. Source: Regents University http: //www. regent. edu/admin/registrar/documents/FERPAWorkshop. ppt