The University of Memphis | Privacy of Education Records (Compliance with FERPA) | ||||||
POLICIES |
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| Policy Statement |
| The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, with which the University intends to comply fully, is designed to protect the privacy of education records, to establish the right of students to inspect and review their education records, and to provide guidelines for the correction of inaccurate or misleading data through informal and formal hearings. Students also have the right to file complaints with The Family Policy Compliance Office (FPCO) concerning alleged failures by the institution to comply with the Act. |
| Purpose |
To comply with the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 and to provide students the opportunity to review and correct their education records. |
| Definitions |
| Education Record | "Education Records" is defined as those records, files, documents, and other materials that (1) contain information directly related to a student; and (2) are maintained by the University or by a person acting for the University. They do not include (1) personal notes; (2) records maintained by law enforcement personnel solely for law enforcement purposes; (3) employment records (except those as student employees); (4) medical, psychological, and psychiatric records (these are accessible to the student's physician); (5) and records containing only information relating to a person after that person is no longer a student at the University. An example would be a record of accomplishments of an alumnus of the University. |
| Student | A student is any person who is or has been enrolled at the University of Memphis. Persons who have applied for admission but have never matriculated are not students of the University of Memphis. Wherever "student" is used in reference to personal rights, an eligible parent of a dependent student has similar rights. |
| Directory Information | "Directory Information" is defined as: The student's name, address, telephone listing, e-mail address, University ID number, date of birth, major field of study, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of members of athletic teams, dates of attendance, degrees and awards received, the most recent previous education agency or institution attended by the student, the student's full or part-time status, the student classification (level), earned hours and student employment status. |
| Access | To have access to an "Education Record" is to be allowed to see the original record. It implies that right to obtain copies of that record. A charge for the copies may be required. |
| School Officials | School officials are those University employees with general or specific responsibility for promoting the educational objective of the University. Employees whose responsibilities place them within this category include teachers; faculty advisors; admissions counselors; academic advisors; therapeutic counselors and vocational counselors; degree analysts; employment placement personnel; deans, department chairs, directors, and other administrative officials responsible for some part of the academic enterprise or one of the supporting activities; administrative and faculty sponsors of officially recognized clubs, organizations, etc.; members, including student members of committees appointed by the President; clerical personnel employed to assist University officials in discharging professional responsibilities; vendors and volunteers of the University. Access by these officials is restricted where practical only to that portion of the student record necessary for the discharge of assigned duties. |
| Legitimate Educational Interests | Legitimate educational interests are defined as those interests that are essential to the general process of higher education prescribed by various legislative acts and the body of policy adopted by the governing board. Legitimate educational interests would include teaching, research, public service, and such directly supportive activities as academic advising, general counseling, therapeutic counseling, discipline, vocational counseling and job placement, financial assistance and advisement, medical services, and academic assistance activities. In addition, the University officially recognizes appropriate co-curricular activities which are generally supportive of overall goals of the institution and contribute to the general well-being of the entire student body and specifically to include varsity and intramural sports, social fraternities and sororities, honorary and academic fraternities and sororities, departmental clubs, professional fraternities, special interest clubs and student government. |
| Procedures |
| Disclosure of Records-Release of Personally Identifiable Student Education Records | A. The University of Memphis shall not permit access to or release any information in the Education Records that is specifically identifiable as referring to any student, other than Directory Information, without verification of the written consent of the student to any party other than the following:
B. Record of Disclosure - All individuals and agencies that have requested or obtained access to a student's record (except as stated in A. Disclosure of Record) will be noted in a record that is kept with each student's closed file. A request must be in writing stating the purpose of the request. This record will also indicate specifically the legitimate interest that the person or agency had in obtaining the information, and the information made available will be limited to that necessary to satisfy such demonstrable needs. C. No University office receiving student information shall and all agencies receiving student information will be advised not to, release the information to another party without the written consent of the student. D. The University retains all rights to the student's academic record and may withhold transcripts of the record because of unfulfilled obligations to the University. E. Eligible students and parents have the right to file a complaint with the Department of Education concerning an alleged failure by the University to comply with the "Privacy Rights of Parents and Students" Act. Students may also file a complaint against the University in the Office of the Registrar. A copy of the Act may be read in the Office of the Registrar or the University Counsel. F. A list of the Custodians of records is available in the Office of the Registrar. |
| Access to Education Records | To gain access, the student must request the custodian to allow him/her to peruse the "Education Record". This request will be granted within a reasonable period of time (45 days). The student may ask for an explanation and/or copy of his/her "Education Record". Examination will be permitted under conditions that will prevent alteration or mutilation of the record. A student must present proper identification upon request. Documents submitted by or for the student in support of his/her application for admission or for transfer credit will not be returned to the student nor sent elsewhere. Right of Access does not include:
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| Correction to Records | If the student believes the "Record" content to be inaccurate, he/she may submit a request for amendment of his/her record. Normally such matters will be satisfactorily settled in the course of informal discussion with the student. When this is not the case, the request and the challenge must be presented in writing to the record custodian who will inform the student of his/her decision within 45 days and of his/her right to a hearing. The student may then submit a written request for a hearing to the Registrar or designate who will (1) appoint an Appeals Committee consisting of four "Record" custodians (none of whom is custodian of the "Record" in question), with one of the four designated as chair, and (2) designate a time and place for the first meeting and inform the student of the same. The Appeals Committee will convene with the student within 45 days from the date of the request, allowing the student, or his/her parents if the student is a dependent, to present relevant evidence. The student may be assisted or represented by counsel of his/her choice and at his/her own expense. A written decision based solely upon evidence presented at the hearing will be given to the student within 45 days after the conclusion of the hearing, including a summary of the evidence and reasons for the decision and notification of his/her right to place a statement in the "Education Record". Thereupon, the student may submit to the Committee a written explanation to be inserted into the "Record". Note: This procedure does not provide for a hearing to contest an academic grade. |
| File a Complaint | Written complaints concerning failure by the University to comply with FERPA should be submitted to The University of Memphis, Office of the Registrar, 003 Wilder Tower, Memphis, TN 38152-3520 or the Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20202-4605. For further information visit the U.S. Department of Education website at www.ed.gov. |
| Restrict Release of Directory Information | After registering for courses, a student may file a written request with the Registrar's Office that directory information not be released. (See Request for Restricting the Release of Directory Information form at http://www.memphis.edu/registrar/pdf_docs/forms/directory.pdf). Such information will also be withheld from the campus telephone directory if the form is completed within the first two weeks of classes. Note: The campus telephone directory is published in the fall semester. |
| Links |
| Office of the Registrar | www.memphis.edu/registrar |
| U. S. Department of Education | www.ed.gov (Topics/Privacy) |
| Revision Dates |
| UM1248 Rev.3 -- updated December 18, 2009
UM1248 Rev.2 -- updated December 6, 2007 UM1248 Rev.1 -- updated February 2, 2005 UM1248 -- issued May 15, 2002 Nov-19-2007 |
| Subject Areas: |
| Academic | Finance | General | Human Resources | Information Technology | Student Affairs |
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