Parents

The Federal Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) & Parents

DePauw University, like all universities, is subject to the provisions of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), also known as the Buckley Amendment. FERPA is a federal law designed to protect the privacy of educational records. For students under age 18, the rights guaranteed by FERPA reside with their parents. For students age 18 and older, and all students who are enrolled in college, the rights reside with the student.

For college students, the law establishes the following:

• the right to inspect and review their educational records
• guidelines for the correction of inaccurate or misleading information through informal and formal hearings
• the right to have some control over the disclosure of those records to third parties, including parents.

Please note that these guarantees are made to the student, not to the parents or guardians of the student. For the most part, the student is the only person who can authorize access to his/her records. Parents no longer have the right to access their student’s records without the student’s signed written consent to do so.

DePauw University may not disclose information about students (including class attendance or illness) nor permit inspection of their records without written permission, unless such action is covered by certain exceptions permitted in the Act. For instance, educational records may be shared with a school official who has a legitimate educational interest or need to know.

Further information about FERPA may be accessed at http://www.depauw.edu/admin/registrar/. Release of academic information, except in emergencies and at times when the University feels parental notification is necessary, is only by the signed request of the student.