Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

1. What is FERPA?

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect to their education records.

These rights include:

1. The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days of the day the University receives a request for access.
2. The right to request amendment of the student’s education records that the student believes is inaccurate.
3. The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.
4. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by Colorado State University - Pueblo to comply with the requirements of FERPA.

2. When is a student protected by FERPA?

When a student turns 18 or attends a postsecondary institution; only the student may access, seek to amend, and consent to disclosures of his or her education records.

3. What is directory information?

Student name, address, telephone number, date and place of birth, classification (student level), major field of study, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of athletes, dates of attendance, degrees granted and dates conferred, awards received, most recent previous educational agency or institution attended, full or part-time status and video and photographic images of students with the exception of the official CSU-Pueblo identification photograph are included in directory information.

The University is authorized to publish, and will publish directory information, collectively or individually, unless a student, by the end of the second week of classes, notifies the Records Office in the Administration Building, Room 202 in writing that their directory information should not be released.

4. What does it mean if my son/daughter blocks their directory information?

Students have the right to request that their directory information be withheld by completing and submitting the appropriate paperwork to the Records Office.

5. As a parent, what am I allowed to access under FERPA?

You may only access directory information if your son/daughter has not elected to block it.

6. Can my son/daughter grant me access to their education records?

If your son/daughter chooses to grant you access to their educational records, they may do so by filling out and submitting a “Consent for Release” form to the Records Office. This can be a one-time release or a permanent release. A student can also choose to reverse a permanent release by coming into the Records Office and completing the appropriate paperwork.

7. For emergency purposes. How can I contact my son/daughter?

In an emergency, contact the on-campus Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office at (719) 549-2373 and they can assist in contacting your son/daughter.

8. Where do I call with questions about FERPA?

Call the Records Office at (719) 549-2462.