Ferpa Submission: Rutgers New Brunswick

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law that protects the privacy of students' educational records. Rutgers University is subject to FERPA and therefore cannot share student information with family members without the written consent of the student. Students can fill out a FERPA consent form to allow the university to communicate with their family about their records. Students can also use the myGuest Dashboard to give parents, guardians, and third parties access to view content and services related to their university experience, such as class schedules, financial aid awards, and term bills.

FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act)

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. FERPA applies to all educational institutions that receive federal funding for any program administered by the Secretary of Education. It also applies to private entities that contract to perform services for Rutgers University–New Brunswick that it would otherwise undertake on its own; in this case, the private entity must observe the same FERPA protections as the university.

FERPA gives students certain rights regarding their educational records. Students have the right to inspect and review their educational records, seek amendments to them, and consent to the disclosure of the records. They can also obtain a copy of the school's Student Records Policy and file a complaint with the FERPA Office in Washington, D.C.

At the postsecondary level, parents have no inherent rights to access or inspect their child's educational records. Rutgers University will release records, including progress, deficiencies, and grades to parents only if the student has given written consent, regardless of the student's age or tax status. Students who wish to allow their parents or legal guardians to access their information can do so via the myGuest Dashboard.

Students can fill out a FERPA consent form to allow the university to communicate with their family about their records, but this does not compel the university to do so. If students have any questions about FERPA or their records, they can contact the Office of Enterprise Risk Management, Ethics, and Compliance at 973-972-8093 or the University Ethics and Compliance Director of Privacy at (973) 972-8000 or [email protected].

Student privacy

Rutgers University is committed to protecting the privacy of its students' educational records in compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974, also known as the Buckley Amendment. This federal law ensures that students' educational records are kept confidential and grants specific rights to students regarding their records.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law that protects the privacy of students' educational records. It grants students the right to control access to and disclosure of their educational information. FERPA applies to all educational institutions that receive federal funding for programs administered by the Secretary of Education. Private entities that contract with Rutgers University to perform services must also comply with FERPA protections.

Student Rights Under FERPA:

Once a student turns 18 or enters a postsecondary institution, the rights under FERPA transfer from the parents to the student. Students at Rutgers University have the following rights:

• The right to inspect and review their educational records
• The right to seek the amendment of their educational records
• The right to consent to the disclosure of their educational records, with certain exceptions
• The right to obtain a copy of the university's Student Records Policy
• The right to file a complaint with the FERPA Office in Washington, D.C.

Educational records include any information directly related to a student and maintained by Rutgers University or those acting on its behalf. This includes:

• Admissions information for enrolled students
• Biographical information such as date and place of birth, gender, nationality, race, ethnicity, and photographs
• Grades, test scores, evaluations, courses taken, academic activities, and official communications
• Course work, including papers, exams, and class schedules
• Disciplinary records
• Financial and financial aid records
• Internship program records

Authorizing Access to Student Records:

At Rutgers University, educational records, including progress, deficiencies, and grades, will not be released to parents or legal guardians without the student's written consent. Students who wish to allow their parents or guardians access to this information can do so through the myGuest Dashboard, which provides a platform for students to grant permission to parents, guardians, or third parties to view specific content and services related to their university experience.

Parental access

Students who wish to allow their parents or legal guardians to access their educational records can do so through the myGuest Dashboard, which is available online. The myGuest Dashboard allows students to give parents, guardians, and third parties access to view content and services related to the student's experience at the university, such as class schedules, financial aid awards, and term bills. However, it is important to note that even with this service, Rutgers University will not grant access without the student's permission due to the protection of student rights under FERPA.

In addition to the myGuest Dashboard, students can fill out a FERPA consent form, which allows, but does not require, the university to communicate with parents or family members about the student's records. This form can be submitted to the Office of Academic Programs. It is important to note that even with this form, Rutgers University cannot share information about a student without the student's consent, as required by FERPA.

FERPA also allows students to request to opt out of the disclosure of directory information by submitting the Student Directory Confidentiality Selection Form. This request will be honoured by the university until the student or alumnus rescinds the opt-out request.

Overall, while FERPA and Rutgers University policies recognise the importance of parental involvement and support, the ultimate decision rests with the student, who has the right to control the disclosure of their educational records.

Student records

Rutgers University is committed to keeping student information private and secure. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law that grants specific rights to students and their parents regarding their educational records.

Educational records include any information or data recorded in any medium that is directly related to a student and maintained by Rutgers University or by a person acting on behalf of the University. This includes admissions information, biographical information, grades, test scores, evaluations, academic activities, disciplinary records, and financial and financial aid records.

At Rutgers University, records such as progress, deficiencies, and grades may only be released to parents if the student has provided written consent or has given them access via the myGuest Dashboard. Students may also choose to waive parts of this policy and allow their parents or legal guardians to have more access to their information through the myGuest Dashboard.

The Office of the Registrar in New Brunswick serves as the custodian of student academic records. They provide essential processes, maintain records, and answer inquiries with confidentiality and integrity. Students can visit the One Stop Dr. Samuel Dewitt Proctor Hall Busch Campus in-person during office hours or access their records online.

Additionally, the Office of Student Conduct maintains a conduct record for every student found responsible for a violation of University policy. These records are considered educational records and cannot be provided to outside parties without the student's permission. However, a Release Authorization Form is required if a student wishes to release their conduct record or request a copy for themselves.

Rutgers University Ethics and Compliance

Rutgers University is committed to protecting the privacy of its students' educational records in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974, also known as the Buckley Amendment. This federal law ensures that students have the right to control the disclosure of information from their educational records and grants them several rights, including:

• The right to inspect and review their educational records
• The right to seek the amendment of their educational records
• The right to consent to the disclosure of their educational records, with some exceptions
• The right to obtain a copy of their school's Student Records Policy
• The right to file a complaint with the FERPA Office in Washington, D.C.

At Rutgers University, records such as progress, deficiencies, and grades may only be released to parents if the student has provided written consent, regardless of the student's age or tax status. Students who wish to grant their parents or legal guardians access to this information can do so via the myGuest Dashboard, while still maintaining their rights under FERPA.

Students may also request to opt out of the disclosure of directory information by submitting the Student Directory Confidentiality Selection Form. This request will be honoured by the university until the student or alumnus rescinds the request.

In addition, FERPA applies to private entities that contract to perform services for Rutgers University that it would otherwise undertake itself. In such cases, these private entities must observe the same FERPA protections that apply to the university.

For any questions or concerns regarding FERPA compliance at Rutgers University, students and parents can contact the University Ethics and Compliance Director of Privacy at (973) 972-8000 or [email protected]. The Compliance Helpline is also available to report any concerns.

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