FERPA

Registrar, (352) 392-1374, www.registrar.ufl.edu

The 1974 Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, also known as the Buckley Amendment, is a federal law (20 U.S.C. 1232g) that protects the privacy of a student’s educational record. FERPA applies to all educational institutions receiving funds from the United States Department of Education, from kindergarten through university level.

At the University of Florida, the privacy of academic records is also protected by Florida Statute, Section 1002.22 (2006) and University Regulation 6C1-4.007.

The U.S. Department of Education summarizes the rights afforded to students by FERPA as follows:

• The right to inspect and review their educational records within a reasonable period of time and no more than 45 days after the institution has received the request
• The right to request to amend inaccuracies in their educational records
• The right to limit disclosure of some personally identifiable information
• The right to file a complaint with the Family Policy Compliance Office if they feel their FERPA rights have been violated

FERPA requires universities to provide students with annual notification of these rights. UF’s annual notification appears in the undergraduate and graduate catalogs. Students who suspect that a FERPA violation has occurred, should contact the Vice President for Student Affairs (155 Tigert Hall; (352) 392-1265) or they can contact the Family Policy Compliance Office within the U.S. Department of Education.