University of Colorado at Boulder Parent Guide
FERPA at a Glance
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (a.k.a. FERPA or 20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99) is a federal law enacted in 1974 that controls student records. FERPA is administered by the U.S. Department of Education, and maintains a website for parents.
Under FERPA, all parental rights are transferred from you to your student once he/she either reaches 18 years of age or enters a post-secondary institution. This means that you cannot access your student’s college educational records even if you are paying the bills unless your student gives you written permission to do so.
What information is protected under FERPA?
FERPA covers “educational records” which are very broadly defined as “those records that are directly related to a student and are maintained by an educational agency or institution or by a party acting for the agency or institution.” Examples of FERPA records include grades, transcripts, test scores, I.D. numbers or social security numbers, financial records, disciplinary records, and class schedules. While counseling and medical records are not covered by FERPA, almost every state has laws or policies governing the confidentiality of these types of records.
What information can I obtain without permission from my son or daughter?
Unless your student specifically requests that the college not release it, FERPA allows the college to release certain information, called Directory Information, to anyone. Directory information means information contained in an education record of a student that would not generally be considered harmful or an invasion of privacy, if disclosed.
It includes, but is not limited to, the student's name, address, telephone listing, electronic mail address, photograph, date and place of birth, major field of study, dates of attendance, grade level, enrollment status (e.g., undergraduate or graduate; full-time or part-time), participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of members of athletic teams, degrees, honors and awards received, and the most recent educational agency or institution attended. Each college can specify what it considers as directory information under FERPA.
Will the college let me know if my student gets in any trouble related to drugs or alcohol?
Under FERPA a college MAY, without the student’s permission, release certain information to parents or guardians of students under the age of 21 found responsible for violating any law, rule or university policy pertaining to drugs or alcohol. Each college is allowed to decide whether or not to release this information to parents; even schools that decide to release information under this provision can set parameters as to what info to release and when to notify parents.
Health and Counseling Services’ records are subject to even more restrictions than are educational records, including keeping it confidential that your student has even utilized those services. College officials recognize that confidentiality in this area is critical to encouraging students to talk openly and candidly with a physician, psychologist or other health professional without fear that this information will be shared with others.
Will I be notified if my student is hurt or in danger?
In the event of a potentially life-threatening emergency FERPA does allow parents or guardians to be notified without prior consent from the student. Most colleges have some type of emergency notification policy for this type of situation. Further, if a hospital or police agency is involved, they will have their own protocols for notifying you.
Why does the college make it almost impossible to get any info about my student?
In addition to the legal constraints FERPA places on us, most colleges operate within a student development framework that recognizes that the college years are when students are transitioning from late adolescence to adulthood. One of the most effective ways to help with that transition is to treat students as adults, granting them both the rights and responsibilities which go along with that status. This includes communicating directly with them rather than with the parents.
Most college officials recognize the important role parents also play in this transition to adulthood, including providing emotional and financial support, and reinforcing good behavior and habits. Students are consistently encouraged to share information with their parents and include them in key decisions and situations they face during their college years.
(Source: The Parent Pages, Paperclip Communications)
