Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) protects the privacy of student educational records. This law applies to all schools that receive funds under an applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education. 

• Directory Information - information contained in an education record of a student that would not generally be considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if disclosed. What is and is not considered directory information under FERPA can be found here.
• Education Records - records that are directly related to a student, maintained by an educational agency or institution or by a party acting for the agency or institution. What is and is not considered education record under FERPA can be found here.
• Eligible Student - a student who has reached 18 years of age or is attending an institution of postsecondary education
• Parent - a parent of a student, including a natural parent, a guardian, or an individual acting as a parent in the absence of a parent or guardian
• Personally Identifiable Information (PII) - this term includes but is not limited to: 
  • student's name
  • name of student's parent or other family members
  • address of student or student's family
  • a personal identifier, such as the student's social security number, student number, or biometric record
  • other indirect identifiers, such as the student's date of birth, place of birth, and mother's maiden name
  • other information that, alone or in combination, is linked or linkable to a specific student that would allow a reasonable person in the school community, who does not have personal knowledge of the relevant circumstances, to identify the student with reasonable certainty
  • information requested by a person who the educational agency or institution reasonably believes knows the identity of the student to whom the education record relates

Right to Review Student Education Records

• Students have the right to review their education records within 45 days of the university's receipt of the request

Requirement to Authenticate Requestor Identity

• Institution faculty and staff must verify the identity of the student when a student requests access to their education records prior to release of the records

Right to Request Amendment of Records

• Students have the right to request an amendment to their education records if they believe the record is inaccurate or misleading

Right to File a Complaint

• Students have the right to file a complaint with the Department of Education concerning alleged failure by the university to comply with the requirements of FERPA

Disclosures

• Some types of information can be disclosed without the permission of the student. What does and does not require permission prior to disclosure can be found here. 

More information on Pitt's FERPA practices can be found in University Policy AC 04 Access to and Release of Education Records.