FERPA
The federal Family Educational Rights And Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect to their education records:
The right to inspect and review the student's education records within 45 days of the day the University receives a request for access.
Students must submit a written request that identifies the record(s) they wish to inspect to the University official that has custody of the record. A complete listing of Record Custodians is found in the Student Code. The Record Custodian will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. If the records are not maintained by the University official to whom the request was submitted, that official will advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed.
The right to request the amendment of the student's education records that the student believes are inaccurate or misleading.
Students may ask the University to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading. They must write the University official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading.
If the University decides not to amend the record as requested by the student, the University will notify the student of the decision and advise the student of his or her right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Information regarding the hearing procedures is found in the Student Code.
The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student's education records, except to the extent that Family Educational Rights And Privacy Act authorizes disclosure without consent. Student information can be released upon completion of the Student Consent To Release Educational And Financial Records form.
Among the exceptions that permits disclosure without consent (see the Student Code) is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is:
- A person employed by the University in an administrative, supervisory, academic or research, or support staff position (including law enforcement unit personnel and health staff).
- A person or company with whom the University has contracted (such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent).
- A person serving on the Board of Trustees.
- A student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks.
A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility.
Upon request, the University discloses education records without consent to officials of another school in which a student seeks or intends to enroll.
Directory Information may be released without the student's consent. For currently enrolled students, "directory information" includes the student's name; addresses; telephone numbers; college, curriculum, and major field of study; class level; date of birth; dates of attendance and full- or part-time status; eligibility for membership in registered University honoraries; degrees, honors, and certificates received or anticipated; for students appointed as fellows, assistants, graduate, or undergraduate hourly employees, the title, appointing department, appointment dates, duties, and percent time of the appointment; weight and height if the student is an athletic team member; participation in officially recognized activities and sports; and institutions previously attended. Currently enrolled students may suppress Directory Information by following the directions found in the Student Code.
The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign to comply with the requirements of Family Educational Rights And Privacy Act.
The name and address of the Office that administers Family Educational Rights And Privacy Act is:
Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
600 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, DC 20202-4605