FERPA is the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act

(Also known as the Buckley Amendment of 1974)

What does FERPA do?

·   Allows students certain rights

·   Says that an institution can only disclose information about a student with the student’s written consent

·   Says a student can request NO information EVER be given out about them, including directory information

·   EXCEPTION: It says that an institution may disclose without a student’s written consent, items considered DIRECTORY INFORMATION

What is DIRECTORY INFORMATION at LTU?

What information can I give out? (WITHOUT a student’s consent, unless they are marked “Confidential” in Banner)

·   Student name

·   Dates of Attendance

·   Major field of study

·   Class level (junior, graduate, etc.)

·   Degrees awarded

·   Honors/ Awards received or earned

·   Anticipated degree date

·   Confirmation that a student is enrolled here (enrollment status)

Students can expect privacy related to their educational records. This means that information from a student’s educational record can be shared within the University among appropriate school officials. School officials are defined as any person employed by the University in an administrative, supervisory, academic or research, or support staff position (including campus law enforcement personnel and health/counseling personnel); a person or company with whom the university has contracted as its agent to provide a service instead of using university employees or officials (such as an attorney, auditor or collection agent); a student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee or assisting another school official in performing his/her tasks; and members of official college and University committees-all  having “legitimate educational interests” in the records.

This also means that once a student is enrolled at Lawrence Tech, that under typical circumstances, the information in the educational record cannot be shared with anyone outside the University, other than the student. So, if a student’s spouse, parent or sibling contacts the University asking for information about the student, the caller will be asked to have the student call themselves for the information as we are unable to disclose information to anyone else. The only exception to this federal regulation is if the student has completed the Authorization to Disclose Information form and submitted it to the One Stop Center. On this form the student can give permission and set up an access PIN for relatives and/or guardians who they wish to also have full account access. Questions regarding this policy should be directed to the Office of the Registrar.

More information: Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act Regulations (FERPA)