Privacy and Student Records (FERPA)

Rutgers complies with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).  FERPA affords students certain rights with respect to their education records, including the right to inspect and review those education records and the right to request amendment of education records that the student believes are inaccurate or misleading.  Rutgers shall obtain the prior consent of the student before disclosing personally identifiable information contained in the student's education records, EXCEPT to the extent FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.  Generally, this means that you should not discuss such matters as the grades and class attendance of your students or disciplinary matters with their parents, unless the students have waived their right to privacy by signing a notarized release form.

There are a number of exceptions to the general rule prohibiting disclosure of personally identifiable information from education records without prior consent of the student.  Some common exceptions used by Rutgers include disclosure to Rutgers officials with legitimate educational interest in the records being sought and the release of student directory information.  More details from the University Policy can be obtained from the Office of Compliance, Student Policy, and Judicial Affairs at their web site.

Faculty members should take care to protect student confidentiality.  For example, do not publish or display lists of students by social security number, do not list grades publicly by name or social security number or publish grades on a web site or an email list, and do not leave student papers or exams for pickup outside your office.  All papers, exams, and other graded materials should be kept securely in your possession until picked up by students or mailed to them in a self-addressed, stamped envelope provided by the student.

Further information about access to student records, as well as release forms, can be found on a page maintained by the Office of Compliance, Student Policy, and Judicial Affairs.