FERPA BASICS
What does FERPA stand for?
The Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act
Your student's grades are posted online. Who can view them?
The student only.
Can the university share a student's GPA with parents without consent?
No, not without the student's written permission.
Can a professor discuss a student’s academic performance with a parent?
Not without the student’s consent.
Your student got a bad grade, and you want to talk to the professor. Can you?
Only if your student has signed a FERPA release.
FERPA is a federal law that protects what?
The privacy of student records.
Who can update or change the student's address in school records?
The student
What's one type of record protected under FERPA?
Grades, class schedule or disciplinary record.
Can staff confirm if your student is enrolled in a specific class?
Not without the student’s permission.
Your student forgets their FERPA PIN what must they do to obtain or reset it?
Present a photo ID to the campus official
False! It also applies to colleges and universities.
Who signs the FERPA release form if a parent wants access to grades or records?
The student
True or False - Faculty can email grades to parents if requested.
False! Grades can only be shared with the student.
What can the university share publicly (unless the student opts out)?
“Directory information” – like name, major, and enrollment status.
How long does the CSU FERPA authorization remain valid once submitted?
It stays valid as long as the student is continuously enrolled or until they revoked it.
When does FERPA protection transfer from the parent to student?
When the student begins attending college (regardless of age).
True or False - Parents automatically have access to all student information if they pay tuition.
False - payment does not override FERPA.
What must a student submit to allow a parent to see their transcript?
A signed FERPA consent form
True or False – Staff can share a student’s disciplinary record with parents automatically.
False – only with student consent or under special safety exceptions.
You call to confirm your student's class attendance/ Can the office tell you?
No attendance is protected information.
Who is responsible for their own education records once enrolled in college.
The student.
If a student wants their parent to access records, what must they do?
Complete and sign a FERPA release form.
Can a parent access their student's Financial Aid information?
Only if the student gives permission
True or False - Once you have your student's PIN you can access any office or record at the university.
False! The pin only applies to the four offices listed on the release form - Bursar, Advising & Retention, Financial Aid and Registrar.
You're worried your student hasn't been in contact. What can the university do?
They can do a welness check or contact the student, but cannot share private info with you.