EDUCATIONAL RIGHTS AND PRIVACY ACT (FERPA)
GUIDELINES FOR PARENTS AND STUDENTS
Click here to download a printable (PDF) FERPA Consent to Disclosure form.
(Requires Adobe Acrobat reader.)
What is FERPA?
What does this mean?
What are the ramifications?
Frequently asked questions by parents.
What is the procedure for obtaining confidential information?
1. What is FERPA?
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, as amended, is a federal law that influences record keeping in colleges and universities. The law requires that the educational records of students in colleges and universities receiving Department of Education funds, directly or through students receiving federal financial aid, remain confidential. The law allows others to access a student’s educational records only if the student consents, subject to a few exceptions. Certain information, known as directory information, may be released without the student’s consent.
Top of page
2. What does this mean?
Because Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota accepts federal Department of Education monies, parents may not have access to their son’s or daughter’s educational records unless the son or daughter is 17 years of age or younger or the son or daughter has signed a consent to disclosure form.
Top of page
3. What are the ramifications?
In the course of an academic year parents, understandably, want to be informed of their student’s progress. Due to FERPA, the faculty and staff may not be able to give any information concerning a student to a parent without the student’s permission.
Top of page
4. Listed below are questions asked by parents in recent years:
Will I receive a copy of my student’s grades?
Yes, first quarter grades are mailed to parents. After the first quarter of the first year, all grades are sent to the student directly. If the Consent to Disclosure form has been signed, grades in the first year will be sent to parents.
May I call and request academic, health or disciplinary information over the phone?
Yes, but only if your student has signed the Consent to Disclosure form.
Am I notified when my student is involved in a disciplinary situation?
No, however if your student has signed the Consent to Disclosure form a parent can call and receive the relevant information. Saint Mary’s University personnel will not initiate the contact.
Am I notified when my student incurs outstanding fines (i.e., parking tickets, residence hall policy violations, etc.)?
No, however, outstanding fines may show up on billing statements.
Am I notified when my student is pursuing a potentially harmful and/or addictive lifestyle (i.e., gambling, mood altering chemicals, deviant behaviors, etc.)?
Parents will be notified in situations that involve alcohol, after a student’s second violation. In all cases where addiction is suspected, a referral to counseling services is made.
Are parents informed when their student appears before a disciplinary committee?
No, Saint Mary’s University personnel will not initiate the contact. However, if your student has signed the Consent to Disclosure form, parents can call and receive the relevant information.
In general, are parents notified when something occurs on campus when it is not medical or life threatening?
No, parents will only be notified when the student consents or if it is a life threatening situation.
Top of page
5. What is the procedure for obtaining confidential information?
The easiest way to gain access to a student’s educational records is through a Consent to Disclosure signed by the student. That consent should be filed with the Student Development Office.
To obtain a Consent to Disclosure form, please contact the office of student development at studentdev@smumn.edu
or call or write:
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
Office of Student Development
700 Terrace Heights #50
Winona, MN 55987
507-457-1640 |
