Student Privacy
FERPA
Confidentiality Of Student Records
The Family Educational Right and Privacy Act (FERPA) covers the release and inspection of each
student's educational records. The University of the Pacific adheres
to a policy of compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy
Act (Buckley Amendment). The links on this page provide information
related to FERPA as it pertains to faculty and staff members at University
of the Pacific.
Select from the links at right for more information about the university's
support of student privacy rights.
Students have three primary rights under FERPA. They have the right
to:
- Inspect and review their education
records;
- Have some control over the disclosure of information from
their education record,
- Seek to amend their education records, under certain circumstances.
FERPA Rights Start With the First Class
A student's FERPA rights begin when the student registers and attends
his/her first class. Students who originally sought admission
to one program of study at the university and are denied,
but subsequently are admitted and enrolled in a different program
of study, have FERPA rights only in their admitted/enrolled
program of study.
Education Records
Under FERPA, education
records are private. They include records that
are directly related to a student and are maintained by an
education agency or institution or by a party acting for the
agency or institution. Education records can exist in any medium,
including: typed, computer generated, videotape, audiotape,
film, microfilm, microfiche and email, among others.
Withholding the Release of Public Information
Directory information is public information. Directory
information includes information that can be disclosed without written
student authorization. The university is not obligated to release public
directory information to anyone. FERPA only says that an institution
MAY release such information, but there is no obligation to do so. When
in doubt, do not release information.
According to FERPA, a student can request, while still enrolled, that
the institution not release any directory information about
him/her. Institutions must comply with this request. At Pacific,
students who wish to restrict the release of directory information
about themselves must complete a "Non
Release of Directory Information" form, available from the Office of the Registrar at each respective campus. You must submit the completed form in person
to the Office of the Registrar. You must show a photo I.D. when submitting
the form.
Restricting public access to your directory information could
have negative consequences.
Your names will not appear in the commencement bulletin and
other university publications. Also, employers, credit card
companies, loan agencies, scholarship committees and all
other external organizations will be told: "I'm
sorry, but we have no information regarding that person."
Parental Access to Education Records
At the post secondary level, parents have no inherent rights to access
or inspect their son or daughter's education
records. This right is limited
solely to the student. At Pacific, records may be released
to parents only if
they have been given a written release by the student or in
compliance with a subpoena.
Crisis Situations or Emergencies
A student's local telephone number is considered to be public directory
information, so you can release the phone number—unless the
student has submitted a written request blocking release of otherwise
public information. If the university determines that the information
is "necessary to protect the health or safety of the student or other
individuals." you may also release other public directory
information. You should consider the following types of issues when
making a decision to release non-directory information to a third-party:
- The severity of the threat to the health or safety of
those involved;
- The need for the information;
- The time required to deal with the emergency;
- The ability of the parties to whom the information is
to be given to deal with the emergency.
If the student lives on campus, you can also refer the caller or person
to Student Life on the Stockton Campus, any public safety officer or Dean of Students at the McGeorge School of Law. or place a note yourself in their mail box or on
their resident hall door.
General questions may be directed to the Office
of the Registrar at each respective campus
Contact Information
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