Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
Goldfarb School of Nursing at Barnes-Jewish College complies fully with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) permits access to education records by eligible students and affords students certain rights with respect to their education records. They are:
- The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days of the day the College receives a request for access. Students should submit to the registrar, dean, and/or associate dean of student experience and development, a written request that identifies 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. FERPA allows a College official to be present during the inspection. If the College official to whom the request was submitted does not maintain the records, that official shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed. Some information in a student’s records, such as the student’s parent’s financial records, is not subject to a student’s review.
- 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 to the Registrar 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. If a record is not amended at the student’s request, the student will have the right to include an explanatory comment with the record. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the student when notified of the right to a hearing.
- The right to give or withhold prior consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. These exceptions, which permit disclosure without consent, include, but are not limited to, the following:
- 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 a Student Affairs Committee who handles disciplinary or grievance issues, 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.
- To officials of another college or postsecondary institution where the student seeks or intends to enroll or has enrolled.
- To parents of a dependent student (as defined under the Internal Revenue Code). When the College determines there is an articulable and significant threat to the health or safety of a student or other individuals.
- When the records have been classified as “Directory Information.” Directory Information concerning students may be released unless the student specifically requests that such information be withheld. The College recognizes Directory Information to include a student’s name, address, telephone listing, electronic mail address, date and place of birth, level of education, major field of study, participation in officially recognized activities and sports (not applicable at Goldfarb School of Nursing), height and weight of athletic team members (not applicable at Goldfarb School of Nursing), dates of attendance, full-time/part-time status, degrees, honors and awards received, photograph, and the most recent previous education agency or institution attended by the student. All students must inform the Office of the Registrar before the end of the two-week period following the first day of classes if they wish that any or all of the information designated as directory information not be released. If a student selects to prevent disclosure, the student’s name may not appear on the Dean’s List or the graduation program.
- Note that nonconsensual disclosures under FERPA are permissive so that the College is not required to disclose information based on a third-party request and may choose not to do so or may choose to limit the disclosure to specific parties, for specific purposes, or both.
- The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the College to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA is:
Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202-8520