Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

What is FERPA?

• Important Links and Forms

  Authorization for Access to Student Records

• The Basics of FERPA
  • • • FERPA prohibits the disclosing of student records to anyone other than the student to whom the records pertain, unless the student has given consent.
      • FERPA protects transcripts, exams, grades, "academic" records, but also all other records in any format that contain personally identifiable information about a student.
      • Other records protected by FERPA include disciplinary records, "unofficial" records, photographs, and emails.
      • "Personally identifiable information" includes names, addresses, ID numbers as well as demographic information such as gender, age, major, class year, and residence.
• Exceptions

  It is best to assume that all records concerning students are covered unless a student is sure that they are not. However, there are some exceptions to the nondisclosure agreement which enable the University to conduct its business and make appropriate disclosures without the student's consent.
  These exceptions include:

  • • • Disclosure of educational records to university officials with legitimate educational interest.
        A university official is a person employed by the university in an administrative, supervisory, academic, research or support staff position. This includes campus police, Health Center staff, a person or company with whom the university has contracted as its agent to provide services, a person serving on the Council of Trustees, or a student assisting another university official in the performance of official duties serving on an official university committee.
      • The University may disclose, with appropriate discretion, "directory information" about a student to anyone.
        "Directory information" includes a student's name; local, home, and email addresses; local and home telephone number; major field of study; dates of attendance; anticipated degree and degree date; degrees, honors, and awards received.
• Third-Party Requests

  Information contained in a student's educational record may only be sent to third party requesters outside the university if a written and dated request is made by the student subject to exceptions under FERPA. Please direct your record request to the appropriate office, listed below:

  RECORD TYPE	CONTACT INFORMATION
  Academic Record (Transcripts - Undergraduate & Graduate)	University Registrar's Office 115 Stratton Administration Bldg 610.683.4485 regoffice@kutztown.edu
  Academic Standing	University Registrar's Office 115 Stratton Administration Bldg 610.683.4485 regoffice@kutztown.edu
  Americans With Disabilities Act	Director of Disability Services-ADA 215 Stratton Administration Bldg 610.683.4108 dso@kutztown.edu
  Admissions Undergraduate	Admissions Center, Director of Admissions 15187 Kutztown Road 610.683.4060 admissions@kutztown.edu
  Admissions Graduate	Vice Provost/Dean of Graduate Studies 15205 Kutztown Road 610.683.4220 graduate@kutztown.edu
  Financial Aid	Director, Financial Aid Services 209 Stratton Administration Bldg 610.683.4077 financialaid@kutztown.edu
  Health/Medical Records	Health & Wellness Center, Manager 120 Beck Hall 610.683.4082 health@kutztown.edu
  Counseling	Health & Wellness Center 125 Beck Hall 610.683.4072 cps@kutztown.edu
  Student Conduct Records	Dean of Students Office, Associate Dean of Students 119 Stratton Administration Bldg 610.683.1320 studentconduct@kutztown.edu
  Student Billing	Office of Student Accounts 225 Stratton Administration Bldg 610.683.4133 studentaccounts@kutztown.edu