Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

FERPA rights transfer to the student when he or she reaches the age of 18 or attends a school beyond the high school level. §99.7(3)(i)and(ii) also require notification regarding the procedures to inspect and review education records, and to request amendment of records

• Students have the right to inspect and review their education records maintained by the school. Students who want to inspect and review their education records should submit a written request that identifies the record(s) to the Registrar’s Office registrar@wtamu.edu. The Registrar’s Office will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. Schools are not required to provide copies of records unless, for reasons such as great distance, it is impossible for the eligible student to review the records. Schools may charge a fee for copies. If the records are not maintained by the Registrar’s Office, Registrar’s Office staff will advise the student of the correct school official to whom the request should be addressed.
• Eligible students have the right to request that a school correct records which they believe to be inaccurate or misleading. A student wishing to seek amendment of education records should notify the Registrar’s Office registrar@wtamu.edu.  The notice must be written and specifically identify the desired amendment and the basis for the request. If the university decides not to amend the record as requested, the university will notify the student in writing of the decision and the student’s right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the student when notified of the right to a hearing.  
• Generally, schools must have written permission from the eligible student in order to release any information from a student's education record.

FERPA allows schools to disclose those records, without consent, to the following parties or under the following conditions (34 CFR § 99.7(a)(3)(iii)):

• WTAMU officials with legitimate educational interest;
• • 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 (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 disciplinary or grievance committee, 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 responsibilities for the University.
• Other schools to which a student is transferring;
• Specified officials for audit or evaluation purposes;
• Appropriate parties in connection with financial aid to a student;
• Organizations conducting certain studies for or on behalf of WTAMU;
• Accrediting organizations;
• To comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena;
• Appropriate officials in cases of health and safety emergencies; and
• State and local authorities, within a juvenile justice system, pursuant to specific State law.

Schools may disclose, without consent, "directory" information such as

• Name
• Local and permanent address
• WTAMU e-mail address
• Telephone listing
• Date and place of birth
• Major field of study
• Participation in officially recognized activities and sports
• Weight and height of members of athletic teams
• Dates of attendance
• Enrollment status (e.g., undergraduate or graduate; full-time or part-time)
• Classification
• Degrees, awards, and honors received
• Most previous school attended

Students wishing to withhold the release of directory information should complete a Request to Prevent Disclosure of Directory Information. Form must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar no later than the 12th class day of the fall or spring semesters or 4^th class day of summer sessions. 

Note: Students should carefully consider the consequences of a decision to withhold directory information as future requests from non-institutional persons and/or organizations will be refused. Filing a request to withhold information will also keep a student’s name from being listed for publication for honors such as Dean’s List or President’s List or in the graduation program. A request to withhold directory information remains in place until the student informs the Registrar in writing to remove it.

FERPA Basics for Faculty and Staff  (PDF)

Adding Proxy Access for a Parent or Guardian (PDF)

How to Access Student Information as a Proxy (PDF)

Financial Information for New Students