FERPA Disclosure
Notification of Rights under the Family Educational Rights + Privacy Act (FERPA) for Postsecondary Institutions
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords certain rights with respect to their education records. They are:
(1) The right to inspect and review the student's educational records within 45 days of the day the College 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 College 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 College official to whom the request was submitted, that official shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed.
(2) The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the student believes are inaccurate or misleading.
Students may ask the College to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading. They should write the College official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading.
If the College decides not to amend the record as requested by the student, the College will notify the student 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.
(3) The right to 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 College 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 College has contracted (such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent); a person serving on the Board of Trustees; or a student serving on an official committee, such as 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.
(4) The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by Stephens College to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA are:
Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202-4605
To learn more about this policy, visit the U.S. Dept. of Education FERPA page.
Directory Information Notice
Colleges may disclose, without consent, "directory" information. Directory information is information not generally considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if disclosed. This includes but is not limited to a student's name, address, telephone number, date and place of birth, honors and awards, field of study, enrollment status and dates of attendance. However, the College must give eligible students a reasonable amount of time to request that the school not disclose directory information about them.
Contact
Questions about FERPA and student records may be directed to the Office of the Registrar at (573) 876-7277 or to the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs at (573) 876-7213. To sign a FERPA form, please log in to your student portal to complete the form.