The Family Right to Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) and the Student Consent for Parental/Guardian Access

Beginning with the freshman class of 1999, we are offering a new form to assist parents of students in accessing the student's information. The form gives written permission for a specified person or persons to view the student's individual educational information.

The forms are being provided at new student orientations. If you did not attend orientation, you may print a copy of the Parental Consent Form. Students may, if they wish, allow their parent or guardian access to information that would not normally be available to the parents. This information includes class attendance and grades. However, we must be cautious in its use. The form has a place for the parent(s)/guardian(s) signature, which must be used for comparison when providing information about the student.

The forms are on file in the Registrar's Office and, before providing information to a person claiming to have written permission you should check with the Registrar to be certain that the form is on file. If you have a person asking about a student, please contact the registrar's office and ask that a copy be faxed to you. After comparing the signature on the document with their signature on a photo I.D.(or one signed in your presence), if you are certain that the person you are speaking with has that written approval, you may share student information with that person ONLY.

The federal government enacted the Family Educational Right to Privacy Act of 1974 to protect the rights of students. The act, also known as the Buckley Amendment, has had many revisions over the years since its enactment, but its main purpose is to protect the right to privacy. In the provisions of the act the rights provided by the law transfer from the parents to the student at age 18 or upon entering a college or university. This means that ALL of our students are covered by the act. Unauthorized persons, including parents, are prohibited from viewing individually identifiable information about the student, without the consent of the student.

Only information considered to be directory information may be released without the prior consent of the student. Directory Information is: name, address, telephone number, enrollment status, major, degree obtained and date conferred, and the dates of attendance. All other information about the student must NOT be released without the prior consent of the student.

If in doubt, call the Registrar at 2031.

Academic Records Privacy Rights

As a general rule, a student's academic record is confidential and will not be released to unauthorized persons without written approval from the student. The following items are considered public information and may be made available upon inquiry unless the student requests nondisclosure for the enrollment period: name, address, phone number, e-mail address, enrollment status, classification (FR, SO, JR...) major degrees obtained and dates conferred, and dates of attendance.

Requests for nondisclosure are effective until the student notifies the registrar that the request is to be voided. Voiding the original nondisclosure request may be accomplished in a personal request directly to the registrar.

Arkansas State University intends to comply fully with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974 which was designed to protect the privacy of education records, to establish the right of students to inspect and review their education records, and to provide guidelines for the correction of inaccurate or misleading data through informal and formal hearings. Students also have the right to file complaints with the FERPA office concerning alleged failures by the institution to comply with the Act.

Questions concerning the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act should be referred to the Registrar's Office.