Annual Notification of Rights Under FERPA
Annual Notification of Rights Under FERPA for Students at North Carolina State University
See also University Regulation: Family Educational Rights and Privacy (FERPA or Buckley Amendment)
The federal law may also be accessed at: http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/20/1232g.html
The federal regulations may be accessed at: http://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/reg/ferpa/index.html
UNC General Administration Memorandum #346
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect to their education records. They include:
(1) Inspect and Review of 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 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. The University official 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 shall advise the student of the correct official
to whom the request should be addressed.
(2) Amendment of Records
The right to request the amendment of the student's education
records that the student believes are inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise violate the student's privacy rights under FERPA.
Students should 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. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures
will be provided to the student when notified of the right
to a hearing.
(3) Consent to Disclosure
The right to provide written consent to disclosures of personally identifiable
information from the student's education records.
However, there are exceptions to this right. One exception
which permits disclosure without the student's consent 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; or 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.
The University also discloses education records without the student's consent to officials of another school, upon request, in which a student seeks or intends to enroll.
(4) FERPA Complaints
The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department
of Education concerning alleged failures by NC State University
to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address
of the Office that administers FERPA is:
Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, DC, 20202
(5) Directory Information / Privacy Blocks
Another exception to records privacy is that the University
may disclose "directory information" without student
consent. Directory information consists of a student's name,
email address(es) on file with the Registrar, mailing address(es)
on file with the Registrar, enrollment status (e.g., undergraduate
or graduate; full-time or part-time), telephone number, date
and place of birth, major field of study, student activities,
weight and height of members of athletic teams, dates of attendance,
degrees and awards received, and the most recent previous
educational agency or institution attended by the student.
Students may block disclosure of directory information. To block disclosure of directory information, a student must file a request with the Department of Registration and Records (Harris Hall) within two weeks of the beginning of the semester. Students who do not wish to have listings published in the University's telephone directory must also notify the Department of Registration and Records by the end of the first week of September. Even if a student blocks directory information, it may still be inspected by those persons authorized by law to inspect education records without consent. See 34 CFR 99.31 and 99.37.