FERPA

NOTIFICATION UNDER FERPA OF STUDENT RIGHTS CONCERNING EDUCATION RECORDS AND DIRECTORY INFORMATION

 

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy ACT (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect to their education records.  See Section "6" below on your right to prevent the disclosure of directory information.  The FERPA rights of students are:

(1)     The right to inspect and review your education records.

Students should submit to the registrar, dean, head of the academic department, or other appropriate official, written request that identify the record(s) they wish to inspect.  If the records are not maintained by the college official to whom the request was submitted, that official shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed.

All request shall be granted or denied in writing within 45 days of receipt.  If the request is granted, you will be notified of the time and place where the records may be inspected.  If the request is denied or not responded to within 45 days, you may appeal to the college's FERPA appeals officer.  Additional information regarding the appeal procedures will be provided to you if a request is denied.

(2)     The right to request the amendment of the student's education records that the student believes are inaccurate, misleading or otherwise in violation of the student's privacy rights under FERPA.

You may ask the college to amend a record that you believe is inaccurate, misleading or otherwise in violation of your privacy rights under FERPA.  You should write to the college official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record you want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading.

If the college decides not to amend the record as requested by you, the college will notify you of the decision and advise you of your right to a hearing before the college's FERPA appeals officer regarding the request for amendment.  Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to you when notified of your right to a hearing.

(3)    The right to consent to disclosure of personally identifiable information contained in your education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.

One exception which permits disclosure without consent is disclosure to college officials with legitimate educational interests.  A college official is a person employed by the University 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 University has contracted as its agent to provide a service instead of using University employees or officials,  a person serving on the Board of Trustees, or a student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary committee, or assisting another college official in performing his or her tasks.  

A college official has a legitimate educational interest if access is reasonably necessary in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibilities for the University.   

Upon request, the college discloses education records without consent to officials of another college or school in which a student seeks or intends to enroll.  

(4)     You may appeal the alleged denial of FERPA rights to the:

General Counsel and Vice Chancellor for Legal Affairs
The City University of New York
205 East 42nd Street 
New York, New York 10017
Email: ogc@cuny.edu

(5)     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 are:

Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202-5920

(6)     The college will make the following "directory information" concerning current and former students available to those parties having a legitimate interest in the information:  name, address, e-mail address, telephone number, attendance dates (periods of enrollment), photograph, 8-digit student ID number(but only if the identifier cannot be used to gain access to education records except when used in conjunction with one or more factors that authenticate the user's identity), enrollment status (full or part-time or, graduate, etc.), date and place of birth, full or part-time status, level of education (credits completed), degree enrolled for and major field of study, participation in officially recognized activities and sports (teams), For members of athletic teams only, height and weight,, and degrees, honors and awards received.  

By filing a form with the Registrar's Office, you may request that any or all of this directory information not be released without your prior written consent.  This form is available by clicking on the link below and may be filed, withdrawn, or modified at any time at the Registrar's Office.

*Address, email address and telephone number may be released only to employees of the University and its constituent colleges for the purpose of conducting legitimate University business.  They may not be shared with individuals and organizations outside the University.

FERPA Release Form

FERPA Non-Disclosure Form

CUNY Guidelines for Student Records Access and FERPA

Last Updated: 08/26/2020 10:47