Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

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Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

• Parent/Guardian/Spouse Rights
• McKendree University
• Updated August 2007

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What is FERPA?

• FERPA is the acronym for Family Educational
  Rights and Privacy Act (also called the Buckley
  Amendment)
• FERPA protects the rights of the student and
  allows the student special rights and
  considerations, such as
• Right to see their educational records
• Right to seek amendment to those records in
  certain cases
• Right to consent disclosure of his/her records
• Right to file a complaint with the FERPA Office

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Students Educational Records

• Educational Records are defined as records that
  contain information that is directly related to
  the student and are maintained by the University.
  
• At Post-Secondary institutions parents/guardians/s
  pouse do not have any inherent right to inspect
  their students records, unless the student has
  provided written permission stating specifically
  that they have the right.

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Parental/Guardian/Spouse Rights in regards to-
Grades, Attendance, Progress

• While it may seem unfair, especially to parents
  who are paying for their childrens education,
  under FERPA, information regarding grades, class
  attendance, students progression and exams are
  protected and not accessible to the
  parent/guardian/spouse unless the student has
  provided written permission that specifically
  states that the parent/guardian/spouse can have
  access to this information.

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Rights continued

• While it is always best to have the written
  permission of your son or daughter, one other
  FREPA provision is available.

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Options

• If a child refuses to give permission and the
  child is still a dependant as defined by the IRS,
  a school may choose to discuss information with
  the parent. At McKendree, we require a copy of
  the parents latest tax return as proof that the
  student is still claimed as a dependant. The tax
  return must be filed in the Office of Academic
  Records.

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Questions?

• For questions and/or concerns in regards to FERPA
  please contact either person below
• Debbie Larson Assistant Dean/ Registrar
• 618-537-6816
• Jennifer Miller Assistant Registrar
• 618-537-6957

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References

• Information provided in this presentation have
  been gathered from the following sites
• http//www.ed.gov
• https//www.sis.umd.edu
• http//www.nacada.ksu.edu
• http//www.clark.edu
• http///oar.uiuc.edu
• http//www.usc.edu
• http//www.maricopa.edu