The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law that protects student educational record information.
The Law also gives individual students certain rights:
- the right to inspect and review education records,
- the right to seek the amendment of education records,
- the right to consent to the disclosure of education records except under certain limited circumstances,
- the right to obtain a copy of the school’s FERPA policy,
- the right to file a complaint with the FERPA office in Washington, D.C.
FERPA Overview for Faculty & Staff
This 60 minute virtual session will give you a basic knowledge of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act as it applies to colleges and universities. This session will cover the type of data that is protected under FERPA, security of records, sharing of data in compliance with the outlined requirements necessary to maintain students’ privacy, and the considerations involved when determining who may and may not have access.
Sessions are held on the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 1 p.m.
Please Note: The September FERPA Overview has been cancelled.
Register for our next session HERE.
FERPA Quick Guide
- Current students may request to restrict the release of directory information by logging into WebSTAC, navigating to the Student Information menu and selecting the FERPA Rights and Record Privacy item. Students may update “Yes” settings to “No”, then Save. Students may adjust these settings at any time.
- Current and former students have a right to request to view their educational records within 45 days after the request is submitted to OUR.
- A FERPA restriction remains on the student record indefinitely and can prevent the university from being able to verify attendance and educational credentials. Only the student can request to adjust an existing FERPA restriction. If they no longer have access to WebSTAC, they must contact OUR to make the update.
- OUR recommends students approaching graduation consider whether to retain FERPA restrictions for this reason. Contact us with questions.
- Under FERPA, faculty and staff with access to student information may access it only to perform required job tasks. Under FERPA, faculty and staff may not disclose personally identifiable student information from a student’s record unless sharing with other school officials with “legitimate educational interests”.
- This applies to all WashU students pursing credit bearing courses or degree seeking programs whether remote or on campus.
- Student records or academic performance should not be shared with student’s family member(s) unless a signed and dated consent form from the student, providing permission for WashU to release the specified information to the specific individual is on file. A student’s consent mean that we may discuss the educational record, not that we must.
- When in doubt, contact a school official or OUR for guidance.
- When a student attends a postsecondary institution, regardless of age, FERPA rights transfer to the student. Parents become a third party. Like any other third party, parents may obtain information designated by the institution as directory information at the institution’s discretion. Any other student information will not be released to parents without the student’s consent (although the university encourages students to share information directly with their families rather than rely on a formal consent to release process). Otherwise, the university may engage with families in instances of underage drinking, drug violations, sexual misconduct or acts of violence. Except where the student’s health or safety is at risk, students will participate in the conduct process before parents are informed of infringements.
- FERPA preferences cannot be adjusted on behalf of the student; only the student can submit a consent to release form indicating what information can be shared with whom.
- Parents or family members may not have access to student records without consent even if the student is a financial dependent.
Consent to Release
Under the FERPA policy, students can sign the consent to release form and designate certain information to be shared with individual people. The form requires a student signature and detailed information on what information the student would like to release.
FERPA Consent to Release Form
The FERPA consent to release form may be used to give required permission to a school official to directly release information from your student record to a non-WashU individual or organization. This should be used when it is important that the individual or organization hear directly from WashU; students are encouraged to share information directly with their families, rather than rely on this type of release although this may be used for that purpose as well. Submitting this form allows but does not require WashU to release information.
All fields and rows must be filled out completely. Students must include details of which portion of their record can be released, for example: “my academic standing” or “my performance in XX major or Course in XX semester” (useful if you wish someone to give a recommendation to a potential employer). Instructors do not typically engage directly with third parties; if you have questions about completing this form correctly please contact OUR or an advisor with questions. This consent to release information can be revoked by emailing the Office of the University Registrar from your WashU email account.
Students often ask for reference letters for job or graduate school applications. Faculty are free to share information that is designated as directory information or opinions and observations. If faculty want to include information that is not directory information, such as grades or GPA, the student’s written permission should be obtained prior to writing the reference letter. This authorization should be permanently maintained with the Office of the University Registrar.
This form may be submitted in-person at OUR or submitted with a digital signature from a WashU email account.