FERPA

What is FERPA?

The 1974 Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, also known as the Buckley Amendment, is a federal law (20 U.S.C. 1232g) that protects the privacy of a student's educational record.

The U.S. Department of Education summarizes the rights afforded to students by FERPA as follows:

  • The right to inspect and review the education record within 45 days of the day the University receives a request.
  • The right to request the amendment of the education record if the student believes it to be inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise violating privacy under FERPA.
  • The right to control disclosing personally identifiable information from the education records.
  • The right to file a complaint with the Family Policy Compliance Office if they feel their FERPA rights have been violated.
    Family Policy Compliance Office
    U.S. Department of Education
    400 Maryland Avenue SW
    Washington, DC 20202-5920

    US Department of Education Website

Annual Notification

FERPA mandates that institutions receiving federal funding notify students annually of their rights under FERPA, including their right to access their education records, request corrections, and control disclosures of personal information. Stetson's annual notification is sent annually in November to all current students, staff and faculty as well as to deposited students prior to their official enrollment.

Forms

Authorized Users

Stetson utlizes authorized users for FERPA releases to their educational data. Students set up Authorized User(s) on their My.Stetson Dashboard.
NOTE: When you log onto your My.Stetson Dashboard you can search for Authorized User. If you have already set up an Authorized User you can make adjustments by doing a "Select All" which will remove that Authorized User. If you have not, or you want to add someone, you will click on the "click here" to add another Authorized User.

Stetson will NOT release any information to any person who request information in regard to a student who is not listed as an authorized user on the Authorized User account of the student.

FERPA Records Request

Under FERPA, all students have the right to access their education records, request corrections, and control disclosures of personal information. If you would like to take action on your educational record, please use the FERPA Records Request form.

FERPA FAQ

For more detailed information about FERPA and Stetson University, please refer to the FERPA FAQ page.