Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

FERPA rights transfer to the student when he or she reaches the age of 18 or attends a school beyond the high school level.

• Students have the right to inspect and review their education records maintained by the school. Schools are not required to provide copies of records unless, for reasons such as great distance, it is impossible for the eligible student to review the records. Schools may charge a fee for copies.
• Eligible students have the right to request that a school correct records which they believe to be inaccurate or misleading. If the school decides not to amend the record, the eligible student then has the right to a formal hearing. After the hearing, if the school still decides not to amend the record, eligible student has the right to place a statement with the record setting forth his or her view about the contested information.
• Generally, schools must have written permission from the eligible student in order to release any information from a student's education record.

FERPA allows schools to disclose those records, without consent, to the following parties or under the following conditions (34 CFR § 99.31):

• WTAMU officials with legitimate educational interest;
• Other schools to which a student is transferring;
• Specified officials for audit or evaluation purposes;
• Appropriate parties in connection with financial aid to a student;
• Organizations conducting certain studies for or on behalf of WTAMU;
• Accrediting organizations;
• To comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena;
• Appropriate officials in cases of health and safety emergencies; and
• State and local authorities, within a juvenile justice system, pursuant to specific State law.

Schools may disclose, without consent, "directory" information such as

• Name
• Local and permanent address
• WTAMU e-mail address
• Telephone listing
• Date and place of birth
• Major field of study
• Participation in officially recognized activities and sports
• Weight and height of members of athletic teams
• Dates of attendance
• Enrollment status (e.g., undergraduate or graduate; full-time or part-time)
• Classification
• Degrees, awards, and honors received
• Most previous school attended

Students wishing to withhold the release of directory information should complete a Request to Prevent Disclosure of Directory Information. Form must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar no later than the 12th class day of the fall or spring semesters or 4^th class day of summer sessions. 

Note: Students should carefully consider the consequences of a decision to withhold directory information as future requests from non-institutional persons and/or organizations will be refused. Filing a request to withhold information will also keep a student’s name from being listed for publication for honors such as Dean’s List or President’s List or in the graduation program. A request to withhold directory information remains in place until the student informs the Registrar in writing to remove it.

FERPA Basics for Faculty and Staff  (PDF)