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Understanding Skidmore College FERPA: Student Rights & Privacy

Learn about FERPA, your rights as a student, how to handle educational records, and the importance of compliance with Skidmore College FERPA guidelines.

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Understanding Skidmore College FERPA: Student Rights & Privacy

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  1. Skidmore College FERPA Family Education Rights & Privacy Act • Student FERPA Rights • The right to inspect and review their own educational records. • The right to seek and amend education records. • The right to have some control over the disclosure of information from the education records. • What is FERPA? • It is the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974. • Is also referred to as the Buckley Amendment. • FERPA is enforced by the U.S. Department of Educations’ Family Policy Compliance Office.

  2. Skidmore College FERPA Family Education Rights & Privacy Act • When do FERPA Rights Begin for a Student? • When the student is “in attendance” as defined by the institution. • For Skidmore College that means when the student has paid an enrollment deposit. • What are Education Records? • Records that are directly related to a student and are maintained by the institution. • These records can exist in any media form: handwritten, print, computer generated, film, tape, email, etc.

  3. Skidmore College FERPA Family Education Rights & Privacy Act • Why Comply with FERPA? • It is the Law. • Failure to comply could result in the withholding of Federal Funds, including Student Financial Aid. • It is Skidmore’s responsibility to hold student records in confidence in order to protect their privacy. • What Information might be handled in a secure way?Any part of a student’s record that is not listed as “directory information” • Registration Forms • Financial Information • Social Security Number • Transcripts • Student Information displayed on your computer screen • Grades • Student Schedules • Class Assignments • Class Rosters

  4. Skidmore College FERPA Family Education Rights & Privacy Act • What information can be released?Forward all requests for student information to the Registrar’s Office • Directory Information (unless the student has placed a confidentiality hold on his/her record). • Information that the student has given written consent to release. • Information needed by employees with a legitimate educational interest. • Information needed by certain government agencies. • What is “directory information”? • Is information that can be released without the student’s written consent(unless the student has placed a confidentiality hold on their record) - colleges, to some extent, can determine what information is classified as “directory information”. • Directory Information at Skidmore includes: • photographic image, name, address, telephone #, e-mail address, date & place of birth, major field of study, class year, participation in official sports & activities, weight & height of members of athletic teams, dates of attendance, enrollment status, degrees & awards received, and most recent previous educational institituition attended.

  5. Skidmore College FERPA Family Education Rights & Privacy Act • REMEMBERWhen in doubt – don’t give it out! • Access to Student Information via the Student System or other computer software does not authorize unrestricted use of that information.  • Information on a computer should be treated with the same confidentiality as a paper copy. • Curiousity is not a valid reason to view student information. • Records should only be used in the context of official business. • Who can access Non-Directory Student Information? • ONLY Skidmore College employees who have a legitimate educational interest. • No one, including parents, may obtain non-directory information unless Skidmore obtains a signed consent from the student. • Legitimate Educational InterestA School official’s need to review student education information to fulfill a responsibility as part of his or her contract.

  6. Skidmore College FERPA Family Education Rights & Privacy Act • IMPORTANT • Do not leave confidential information displayed on an unattended computer. • Cover or put away papers that contain confidential informtion if you are going to step away from your desk. • Forward all requests for student information to the Registrar’s Office. • Record Disposal • Records containing social security numbers, grades or any non- directory information about a student should be shredded, not just thrown in the garbage.

  7. Skidmore College FERPA Family Education Rights & Privacy Act • Hints for Faculty to Avoid FERPA Violations • Please: • Do Not use the SSN/Student ID to post grades. • Do Not leave graded tests in a stack for students to sort through. • Do Not circulate a printed class list with Student Name and SSN/Student ID.  • Do Not provide anyone with student schedules. • Do Not provide anyone with lists of students enrolled in your classes. • Do Not include confidential information (i.e. grades, # of credits) in a recommendation letter without the written consent of the student.

  8. Skidmore College FERPA Family Education Rights & Privacy Act Thank you for your cooperation in protecting the privacy of our students! If you have further questions, please contact the Registrar’s Office at 518-580-5710. Source: Regents Universityhttp://www.regent.edu/admin/registrar/documents/FERPAWorkshop.ppt

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