Statement on Right to Privacy and Nondisclosure
Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), all students have certain rights with respect to their educational records. These rights include:
1. The right to inspect and review their official University records in accordance with provisions of the aforementioned act and within the University guidelines. Inquiries regarding the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 should be directed to the Office of the Registrar.
2. The right to request amendments to the educational records that the student believes is inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise a violation of student's privacy rights under FERPA. A student who wishes to ask the University to amend a record should write the University official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record the student wants changed, and specify why it should be changed. The University will notify the student in writing of the decision and hearing procedures if appropriate.
3. The right to provide written consent before the University discloses personally identifiable information from the student's educational records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.
The University discloses educational records without a student's prior written consent to school officials with a legitimate educational interest. A school official is a person employed by the University in an administrative, supervisory, academic or research, or support staff position (including law enforcement personnel and health staff); a person or organization with whom the University has contracted as its agent to provide a service instead of using University employees or officials (such as an attorney, auditor, collection agent, or clinical/practicum site personnel); University-related organizations; or students assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks.
A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an educational record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibilities for the University.
Upon request, the University also discloses educational records, without consent, to officials of another school in which a student seeks or intends to enroll.
The University may make any personal directory information concerning students accessible unless such release violates state and/or federal regulations. For example, in accordance with the Southern Illinois University Management Act, the University will not release a student's personal identifying information to a business or financial institution that issues credit or debit cards, unless the student is 21 years of age or older.
Directory Information includes:
- Student name (preferred name will be utilized where one is indicated).
- Address including local, home, permanent (student must opt-in for third party release).
- Telephone number including landline, campus, and mobile (student must opt-in for third party release).
- E-mail address including SIUE and non-SIUE (student must opt-in for third party release).
- Major field of study.
- Whether a student is currently enrolled.
- Full or part-time enrollment status.
- Class (freshmen, sophomore, etc.).
- Academic Level (undergraduate, graduate, professional).
- Dates of Enrollment.
- Degrees and awards received, including dates, honors, and level of distinction.
- Participation in officially recognized activities or sports.
- Weight and height of members of athletic teams.
Students may object to the release of their directory information by submitting a Directory Information Release form. This form can also be found in the Service Center. SIUE publishes a web directory. The information in the directory is refreshed once in fall and once in spring. To ensure exclusion from this online publication, the Directory Information Release form must be on file by the end of the first week of the semester during which the objection is to go into effect. Once filed, requests to withhold directory information will remain in effect until the student submits a written cancellation of the request.
4. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the University to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA is:
Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202-5901
Note: The University's complete Policy on Release of Student Information and Access to Student Records may be found online.
