Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
The University of Michigan-Dearborn complies with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), the federal law that governs release of and access to student education records.
FERPA applies to the education records of persons who are or have been in attendance at postsecondary institutions. FERPA does not apply to records of applicants for admission who are denied acceptance or, if accepted, do not attend the institution. Students enrolled in one component of an institution who seek to be admitted in another component of the institution are not given FERPA rights to the latter (until they are admitted, enrolled, and attending).
Questions can be directed to [email protected].
Guidelines for the Release of Student Information Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA)
"Education records" include those records which contain information directly related to a student and are maintained (in any way, including handwritten, print, computer media, video or audiotape, film, photographs, microfilm, microfiche, etc.) by the University or by a person acting for the University. The following are not education records:
- records kept in the sole possession of the maker as a personal memory aid,
- law enforcement records,
- employment records relating to individuals employed by the University, except where employment is conditioned upon status as a student,
- records related to treatment provided by a health professional when maintained solely for treatment purposes,
- records created or received about an individual after that person is no longer a student if not related to that student鈥檚 attendance, e.g. alumni records,
- materials in any admissions files, until the student, has been admitted to, and has attended the 萝莉社-Dearborn school or college for which the materials were submitted, and
- all other records which are excluded from the FERPA definition of Education Records.
The need to review an education record in order for a University official to carry out his or her responsibilities in regard to performing an administrative task outlined in the official's duties or to conduct learning analytics. Learning analytics means the use of education records for purposes of understanding and optimizing learning and the environments in which it occurs.
A University official is (i) any person employed by the University in an administrative, supervisory, academic, research, or support position; (ii) a person elected to the Board of Regents; (iii) any person serving on an official University committee or assisting another University official in performing his or her tasks; or (iv) a contractor, consultant, volunteer, or other person who is performing a specific task on behalf of the University. With regard to (iv), such person is considered a University official only if the task they perform is one for which the University would otherwise use its own employees and they are under the direct control of the University or University official with respect to the use and maintenance of personally identifiable information from Education Records.
Directory information may appear in public documents and may otherwise be released to individuals outside the University without the student's specific consent unless the student has opted out of disclosure. The University of Michigan-Dearborn has designated the following items as directory information:
- name
- address
- email address
- uniqname
- telephone number
- University of Michigan-Dearborn school or college
- class level
- major field
- dates of attendance at 萝莉社-Dearborn
- current enrollment status
- degree(s) received and date(s) awarded
- honors and awards received
- participation in recognized activities
- previous school(s) attended
- height and weight of members of intercollegiate athletic teams
Students may request their directory information be withheld under FERPA.
Important notes:
- students requesting non-disclosure of directory information must complete a non-disclosure request form available in the Office of the Registrar
- submitting a non-disclosure request prevents any directory information from being released to anyone鈥攕tudents cannot pick and choose which directory items are disclosed, nor to whom directory items are disclosed in advance
- the University may not even acknowledge to third parties that the person is a student 鈥 鈥渨e have no information on that person鈥 is generally the response
- a non-disclosure request is effective until the student repeals the request in writing
- students who request non-disclosure are excluded from the Honors Convocation program and the Commencement program
- the University must not confirm/deny anything about a student with a non-disclosure request in place without written or authenticated electronic consent
- a warning is displayed on pertinent pages in the Student Information System for students who have requested non-disclosure
Except for certain public (directory) information, student records are regarded as confidential. As required by FERPA, the University has adopted a policy on student records. The University of Michigan-Dearborn鈥檚 Student Records & Student Rights Policy is published in the University Catalog.
FERPA applies to records that relate to any current or former student. A "student" is an individual for whom the University maintains education records and who is or has been enrolled in and attended credit-bearing courses at the University. FERPA does not apply to records created or received about an individual after that person is no longer a student if not related to that student鈥檚 attendance, e.g. alumni records. FERPA does not cover materials in any admissions files, until the student has been admitted to, and has attended the 萝莉社-Dearborn school or college for which the materials were submitted.
FERPA and University policy prohibit disclosing most student education records without the student's written or authenticated electronic permission to anyone outside the University, including a student's parents and University employees (unless legitimate educatio