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Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act Annual Notice to Students: Access to Student Records

Annually, Colleges inform students of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, (FERPA) as amended. The Office of the Registrar will disclose FERPA information by publishing a notice in the College Catalog, Registrar Website and in other appropriate locations. This annual notice shall prescribe the procedures whereby a student may make a formal request for non-disclosure of directory information, exercise the right to inspect and review education records, request an amendment of education records and obtain a copy of the College's education records policy. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect to their education records. See Section "6" below on your right to prevent the disclosure of directory information. The FERPA rights of students are:

  1. The right to inspect and review your education records. Students should submit to the registrar, dean, head of the academic department, or other appropriate official, written requests that identify the record(s) they wish to inspect. If the records are not maintained by the college official to whom the request was submitted, that official shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed. All requests shall be granted or denied in writing within 45 days of receipt. If the request is granted, you will be notified of the time and place where the records may be inspected. If the request is denied or not responded to within 45 days, you may appeal to the college's FERPA appeals officer. Additional information regarding the appeal procedures will be provided to you if a request is denied. Schools are not required to provide copies of records unless, for reasons such as great distance, it is impossible for students to review the records. Schools may charge a fee for copies.

  2. The right to request the amendment of the student's education records that the student believes are inaccurate or misleading. You may ask the college to amend a record that you believe is inaccurate or misleading. You should write to the college official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record you want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. If the college decides not to amend the record as requested by you, the college will notify you of the decision and advise you of your right to a hearing before the college's FERPA appeals officer regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to you when notified of your right to a hearing.

  3. The right to consent to disclosure of personally identifiable information contained in your education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. One exception which permits disclosure without consent is disclosure to college officials with legitimate educational interests. A college official is a person employed by the university in an administrative, supervisory, academic or research, or support staff position; a person or company with whom the University has contracted; a person serving on the Board of Trustees; or a student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another college official in performing his or her tasks. A college official has a legitimate educational interest if access is reasonably necessary in order to perform his/her instructional, research, administrative or other duties and responsibilities. Upon request, the college discloses education records without consent to officials of another college or school in which a student seeks or intends to enroll

  4. You may appeal the alleged denial of FERPA rights to the: Office of the General Counsel and Senior Vice Chancellor for Legal Affairs The City University of New York 205 East 42nd Street, 11th Floor New York, NY 10017 Email: ogc@cuny.edu

  5. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the college to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA are: Family Policy Compliance Office U.S. Department of Education 400 Maryland Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20202-5920 For additional information visit the U.S. Department of Education website.

  6. Colleges will make the following "directory information" concerning current and former students available to those parties having a legitimate interest in the information:

  • name

  • attendance dates (periods of enrollment)

  • address

  • telephone number

  • date and place of birth photograph

  • email address

  • full- or part-time status

  • enrollment status (undergraduate, graduate, etc.)

  • level of education (credits) completed major field of study

  • degree enrolled for

  • participation in officially recognized activities and sport

  • height and weight of athletic team members

Note: For a copy of the complete policy, go to: FERPA Guidelines