FERPA (Family Education Rights and Privacy Act)

The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (Buckley Amendment) requires
universities such as Waynesburg to protect the privacy of students with regard to educational records maintained by the University, and to provide students with access to records directly related to them. Parents of dependent students may have access to the student’s educational records. The University may also disclose educational records to University officials with legitimate educational interest, other universities to which a student is transferring, appropriate parties in connection with financial aid to a student, appropriate officials in cases of health/safety emergencies and to comply with judicial or legal authorities. Additionally, the University will normally permit release of directory information unless the student has requested that information not be released.

Educational records may consist of the following:

• application for admission
• acceptance letter
• entrance exam reports
• advanced placement records
• transcripts, notification of academic probation and/or suspension
• credit by examination forms
• name change authorizations
• pass/fail requests
• registration forms
• transfer credit evaluations
• withdrawal and/or non-returning student forms
• enrollment verifications
• application for graduation
• student requests for nondisclosure of directory information
• waivers for rights of access
• disciplinary records
• other documents as needed

These educational records may be maintained in different offices. Students have the right to inspect and review their educational records. Students who believe that their education records contain information that is inaccurate or misleading should discuss their problems informally with the person in charge of the records involved. If the problems cannot be resolved, students have the right to request a formal hearing on the matter and/or place a statement with the record setting forth his/her view about the contested information. A request form is available and should be completed in the Student Services Office by the individual student, or the appropriate representative of an inquiring agency from outside of the University, that is seeking access to information in the student’s records. For further information about procedures for access and review of educational records, please contact the Student Services Office.