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The Family Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) requires that institutions of higher education protect the educational records of all students who are or have been in attendance. Each fall, current Clark students receive instructions on completing the FERPA Disclosure Form online. By doing so, the student authorizes a designated third party to receive otherwise protected information.
Click on one of the adjacent buttons for more information pertaining to FERPA.
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Annual Notification to Students
"The Family Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 guarantees that the academic records for students
over 18 years old cannot be discussed with anyone except the student or authorized University
personnel. However, certain information classified as "Directory Information" is available for
public consumption unless the student specifically directs that it be withheld. Public Directory
Information as defined by the act includes: Student's name, addresses (campus, home, e-mail),
telephone listings, date and place of birth, major field of study, class year, participation in
officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of members of athletic teams,
dates of attendance, status (full-time, half-time, part-time), degrees, honors, and awards
received, and the most recent previous educational institution attended."
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights with
respect to their education records. They are:
- The right to inspect and review the student's education records within 45 days of the day the
University receives a request for access.
Students should submit to the registrar, dean, head of the academic department, or other
appropriate official, written requests that identify the record(s) they wish to inspect. The
University official will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and
place where the records may be inspected. If the records are not maintained by the University
official to whom the request was submitted, that official shall advise the student of the
correct official to whom the request should be addressed.
- 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 to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading.
They should write the University official responsible for the record, clearly identifying the
part of the record that they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. If
the University decides not to amend the record as requested by the student, the University will
notify the student of the decision and advise the student of his or her 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.
- 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 that permits disclosure without consent is disclosure to school officials with
legitimate educational 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 a 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.
- The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failure
by Clark University to comply with the requirements of FERPA.
The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA is:
Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
600 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202-4605
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Additional Resources
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