FERPA - FAMILY EDUCATIONAL RIGHTS AND PRIVACY ACT OF 1974

CONFIDENTIALITY/PRIVACY RIGHTS/RIGHT TO KNOW

University of Richmond procedures and Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (P.L. 93-380) as amended, prohibit the unauthorized release of confidential information about individual students. However, directory information is not considered to be confidential and may be published or otherwise released. A full list of information considered directory information is available on the Office of the University Registrar’s web page at www.richmond.edu/academics/registrar/ferpapolicy.html or by contacting the Office of the University Registrar. A student may opt to have their directory information withheld. To exercise this option, the appropriate form must be obtained from the Office the University Registrar, completed and returned to that office. Once filed this form remains in effect until withdrawn by the student in writing to the Office of the University Registrar. For further information, contact the Office of the University Registrar.

RIGHTS WITH RESPECT TO EDUCATION RECORDS

The Family Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect to their education records. They are:

1. The right to inspect and review their records within 45 days of the date the University receives a request for access.
   
   Students should submit to the University Registrar a written request that identifies the record(s) they wish to inspect. The Registrar will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place the records may be inspected.
   

2. The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the student believes are inaccurate or misleading.
   
   Students may ask the University of Richmond to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading. They should write the University Registrar, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading.
   If the University of Richmond decides not to amend the record as requested by the student, the University will notify the student of the decision and advise them of their 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.
   

3. The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.
   
   One exception which permits disclosure without consent is disclosure to school officials with legitimate education interests. A school official is 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 (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 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 responsibility.
   

4. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the University of Richmond to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA are: Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20202-4605

The University of Richmond’s complete FERPA Policy Statement is available as part of the Office of the University Registrar’s web page at registrar.richmond.edu or by contacting the Office of the University Registrar.

RIGHT TO KNOW

In accordance with the Student Right to Know and Campus Security Act, Public Law 101-542, as amended by the Higher Education Technical Amendments of 1991, Public Law 102-26, the University of Richmond will make graduate rates available to all current and incoming students, before enrolling or making any financial obligation to the University. These figures can be found on the Policy page at Graduation Rate Data.