FERPA: Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act

FERPA is a federal law which was passed in 1974. The law protects the privacy of student educational records and provides rights to students for access to and amendment of those records. FERPA applies to any higher education institutions receiving federal funds administered by the Department of Education (DOE).

FERPA also affords students certain rights with respect to their education records. Students have the right to:

• be informed about their educational records;
• inspect their educational records;
• request an amendment to their educational records;
• challenge the accuracy of their educational records;
• prevent unauthorized disclosure of their educational records;
• complain to DOE about a violation of FERPA; and
• waive these rights in writing.

For more information on student rights and FERPA, the Bison Connection lists the Notification of Rights Under FERPA.

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FERPA Release for Students	General FERPA release that students can use to consent to the release of their student records.
Student Reference Request and FERPA Release	Combines FERPA release with the request to serve as a reference for employment, scholarship or honorary award, or admission to another educational institution.
Financial and Academic Student Records Consent to Release Form	FERPA release specific to the offices of Registration and Records, and Customer Account Services.