FERPA for Faculty & Staff

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) protects the privacy of student education records. It governs how universities manage, access, and share student information.

Under FERPA, the University is responsible for:

• Maintaining the confidentiality and security of student records
• Determining who is authorized to access student information
• Ensuring that access is granted only for appropriate and approved purposes

Faculty and staff are considered “school officials” under FERPA and are responsible for safeguarding student information.

Access to student education records is permitted only when there is a legitimate educational interest, meaning the information is necessary to fulfill professional responsibilities in support of the University’s academic mission.

Faculty and staff must not access or disclose student information out of curiosity or for purposes unrelated to their assigned duties.

Frequent FERPA Guidance Topics

• Posting Grades
• Student Photos & Videos
• Communication
• Virtual Learning
• Research