What is FERPA/The Buckley Amendment?

FERPA is the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, also known as the Buckley Amendment.  Statute 20 U.S.C. § 1232g; Regulation 34 CFR Part 99.  FERPA is a Federal law designed to safeguard and protect the privacy of student education records.  The law applies to all schools that receive Federal aid administered by the U.S. Department of Education.

What Rights does FERPA/Buckley Amendment afford students with respect to their education records?

• The right to inspect and review their education records
• The right to request an amendment to their education records that they believe are inaccurate or misleading
• The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent
• The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the University to comply with FERPA

What is an education record?

An “education record” is any record that is directly related to the student and maintained by an educational agency or institution, or by a party acting for the agency or institution.  This includes any information officially maintained in any recorded way such as handwritten, printed, computerized, video, audio or other form of medium.

What is not considered an education record?

• Sole possession records or private notes held by a school official that are not accessible or released to other personnel
• Law enforcement or campus security records that are solely for law enforcement purposes and maintained solely by law enforcement
• Records relating to individuals who are employed by the institution (unless the employment is contingent on their status as a student)
• Records of an institution that contain information about an individual only after that person is no longer a student at the school (e.g., alumni records).

What is directory information?

Directory Information is general, personal information that can be released without the student consent.  Students may opt-out of the release of directory information, by submitting a written request to the Registrar’s Office.   At Parker University, directory information includes:

• Name
• Birth date
• Place of Birth
• Local, permanent and email address
• Telephone Number
• Level of classification
• Major field of study
• Participation in official college activities and sports
• Physical factors of athletes (if any)
• Dates of attendance and earned hours
• Honors, awards, scholarships, and degree conferral date(s)
• The most recent attended educational institution 
• Full-time/part-time status

When do FERPA rights begin?

A FERPA college education record begins upon enrollment and attendance at a higher education institution, regardless of age. 

Written consent and release to disclose an education record to a third party

Request for student information not listed as directory information requires the student to complete and sign a FERPA Authorization Release Form to allow access to third parties.  Third parties may include parents, spouses, employers, or another outside agency. 

Students may consent to the release of information by completing the FERPA Authorization to Release Form available at the bottom of this web page.

When is a student’s written consent not required to disclose an education record?

When the disclosure is:

• To the student
• To an institution where a student seeks or intends to enroll
• To school officials who have a legitimate educational interest
• To federal, state, and local authorities involving an audit or evaluation of compliance with educational purpose
• In connection with financial aid
• To organizations conducting studies on behalf of educational institutions
• To accrediting organizations
• To comply with a judicial order or subpoena
• In a health or safety emergency
• A release of directory information as defined by the University
• Releasing the results of a disciplinary hearing to an alleged victim of a crime of violence

Annual FERPA Notification

In accordance with 34 CFR 668.42©, students will receive an annual FERPA notification regarding their rights related to education records.  In addition, faculty and staff will be annually notified of FERPA policy and the handling of student records.

Who do I contact if I have questions?

Contact the Registrar’s Office:

Via email at:  AskRegistrar@parker.edu

Phone: 972-438-6932

Visit:  Parker University at 2540 Walnut Hill Lane, Dallas, TX 75229