FERPA
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
Release of Student Information
In accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) also known as the Buckley Amendment, post secondary students enrolled at the University of Arkansas and former students are hereby notified of their rights with respect to their education records.
Frequently asked questions:
1. What is FERPA?
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act is the primary law that protects the confidentiality of students records in educational affords student certain rights concerning thier student educational records.
- You have the right to gain access to and seek amendment to inaccurate information contained in your educational records.
- You have the right to disclose your personal educational records to whom you deem necessary.
- You have the right to file a complaint with the FERPA Office in Washington.
2. What are "educational records"?
Education records are defined as ALL records that are:
- Any record related to current or former student.
- Records that are maintained by the instituion or staff member of the institution.
- Records that are maintained in any format.
Examples may include:
- Grades
- Enrollment Records
- Schedules
- Class Lists
- Personal Identification Numbers
- Social security numbers
- Judicial Records
3. What types of records are NOT Educational Records?
- Campus Police Records maintained only for law enforcement purposes.
- Employment Records that are not a result of a students status as a student.
- Medical Records: for more information on privacy as it realtes to medical records see HIPPA on the Health Centers Website.
- Post-Attendance Records
- Unsuccessful applicants records: record of student who were not admitted to the University.
4. When can disclosure of my records occur without my consent?
- Records can be discloed to Insitution Officials with a legitimate need to know.
- Records can be released as the resuly of a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena.
- To appropriate parties where there is a legitiamte health or safety concern. Parties who may obtain records in this siutation are, parents, Department of Police or Public Safety, Pat Walker Health Center.
- Officials of another school where a student seeks to enroll.
- In connection with financial aid for which a student has applied for or will recieve.
- To certain governmental officials in connection with state or federal education programs
- To attorneys representing the University of Arkansas
5. How can I provide consent for someone to access my records?
- The Office for Community Standards and Student Ethics will provide a form for students to fill out to that will allow members of the office to speak with others tthat you would like to have access to your information. If you would like to provide inforation that is not housed in OCSSE, you must contact that office individually to make arragnements.
6. I would like to share my records with a spouse, parents, attorney, prospective employer, etc?
You must first provide information regarding:
- What records you would like to release
- Whom you would like for the records to be realesed to.
The period of time for which the records can be released. - You must sign a date a form for your records.
