Student Privacy/Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
What Is FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act)?
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, as amended (also sometimes referred to as the Buckley Amendment), is a federal law regarding the privacy of student records and the obligations of the institution, primarily in the areas of release of the records and the access provided to these records. Any educational institution that receives funds under any program administered by the U.S. Secretary of Education is bound by FERPA requirements. Institutions that fail to comply with FERPA may have funds administered by the Secretary of Education withheld.
What Are Education Records?
Under FERPA, education records are defined as records that are directly related to a student and are maintained by an education agency or institution or by a party acting for the agency or institution. Education records can exist in any medium, including: typed, computer generated, videotape, audiotape, film, microfilm, microfiche, and e-mail, among others.
What Is Directory or Public Information?
FERPA has specifically identified certain information called directory information that may be disclosed without student consent.
A student who wishes to not have directory information disclosed must opt out of all categories. There is no option to select the particular directory information category to not disclose.
Brooklyn College has designated the following information as directory information and will release this information, unless the student has submitted a request for nondisclosure:
- name
- attendance dates (periods of enrollment)
- address*
- telephone number*
- emplID
- photograph
- e-mail address*
- full- or part-time status
- enrollment status (undergraduate, graduate)
- level of education (credits) completed
- major field of study
- degree enrolled for
- participation in officially recognized activities other than sports
- participation in sports (teams)
- height if member of athletic team
- weight if member of athletic team
- previous school attended
- degrees received
- honors and awards received
* Directory information only if the information is being provided to employees of the University (either at the same college or a different college) for legitimate business purposes. This information cannot be provided to third parties unless a different FERPA exception applies.
Under the provisions of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, you have the right to withhold the disclosure of the "Directory Information" listed above.
