What is FERPA?
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights
with respect to their education records.
These rights include:
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The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days of
the day the University receives a request for access.
Students should submit to the registrar, dean, head of the academic department, or
other appropriate official, written requests that identify the record(s) they wish
to inspect. The University official will make arrangements for access and notify the
student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. If the records are
not maintained by the University official to whom the request was submitted, that
official shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should
be addressed.
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The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the student
believes are inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy
rights under FERPA.
A student who wishes to ask the University to amend a record should write the University
official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record they
want changed, and specify why it should be changed. If the University decides not
to amend the record as requested by the student, the University will notify the student
in writing of the decision and advise the student of his or her right to a hearing
regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing
procedures will be provided to the student when notified of the right to a hearing.
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The right to provide written consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information
contained in the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes
disclosure without consent.
One exception which permits disclosure without consent is disclosure to school officials
with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the
University in an administrative, supervisory, academic or research, or support staff
position (including law enforcement unit personnel and health staff); a person or
company with whom the University has contracted (such as an attorney, auditor, or
collection agent); a person serving on the Board of Trustees; an elementary, middle
school, or secondary school official serving as a practice teaching supervisor; or
a student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee,
or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks.
A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review
an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility for
the University.
Upon request, the University discloses education records without consent to officials
of another school in which a student seeks or intends to enroll.
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The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged
failures by Vincennes University to comply with requirements of FERPA.
The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA are:
