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The Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA) is a 1974 federal law designed to protect the privacy of ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈs. FERPA protects the privacy of ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈs' education records by setting forth strict limitations governing the release of information about ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈs. Although FERPA contains exceptions for the release of “directory information” without a ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈ's prior written consent, ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈs have the right to request that even such directory information not be disclosed.

In very general terms then, FERPA gives ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈs the rights to:

1. Control the disclosure of their “education records” to others; and
2. Inspect and review their own “education records”; and
3. Challenge the content of their “education records”.

FERPA rights belong to the ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈ, and not to the ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈ’s parents or legal guardians, regardless of the ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈ’s age. The term “education records” includes almost all information we maintain about our ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈs including course schedules, grade reports, bursar’s bill, ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈ financial aid, academic information and disciplinary records. Medical information is also protected by federal and state law and cannot be obtained without the ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈ’s express written consent.

Posting Grades

Posting grades by name, social security number or Banner ID# violates FERPA. The only acceptable method for posting grades is to assign the ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈs in your class a random, unique, confidential number or code for the purpose of posting grades. When posting grades you must ensure that such codes and postings are not alphabetic. It is acceptable to use the gradebook feature in Canvas.

Mailing grades to ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈs is permitted if the information is enclosed in a sealed envelope. Mailing grades via postcards violates a ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈ's right to privacy. It is not appropriate to reveal grades over the telephone or to send grades via e-mail to any address other than the ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈ’s official address.

Talking to Parents and Others

A ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈ's academic performance is considered part of his/her education record and discussing the ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈ's performance with anyone other than the ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈ or another school official with a “legitimate educational interest” is a violation of FERPA. At Miami, a faculty or staff member is deemed to have a “legitimate educational interest” if the person needs to review the record in order to fulfill his or her responsibilities.

Do not discuss a ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈ’s academic performance, grades, or other information from a ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈ's education record with anyone other than the ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈ or school official with a “legitimate educational interest” unless:

1. The ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈ provides you with written consent to release the information to the person by signing a FERPA Release Form; or
2. The parents or guardians provide you with proof that the ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈ is claimed as a dependent for federal income tax purposes by providing a written notarized statement stating the ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈ is claimed as their dependent for federal income tax purposes or by providing a copy of the first page of the IRS tax return for the current year showing the ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈ is claimed as the dependent. (Note: Parents often maintain proof of dependency with the Office of the Registrar-please feel free to rely on that proof after confirming that it is on file with the Office of the Registrar)

Letters of Recommendation

Letters of recommendation that contain information from the ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈ's education record,

such as course grades, grade point average, or ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈ employment information require the written consent of the ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈ. When you receive a request for a letter of recommendation from the ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈ, you should have the ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈ sign the FERPA Recommendation Release.

Returning Assignments, Papers, or Exams

Do not leave any graded assignments, papers, or exams unattended (in hallways, outside office doors, etc.) for ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈs to pick up where ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈs could view the work and grades of other ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈs.