Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974- FERPA

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, also known as the Buckley Amendment, helps protect the privacy of student education records. The Act provides for the right of present and former students to inspect and review education records, the right to seek to amend those records, and the right to limit disclosure of information from the records. The intent of the legislation is to protect the rights of students and to ensure the privacy and accuracy of education records. 

Many offices now have direct access to student information that is protected by this law. This makes it doubly important that all users of student records be made aware that the information handled and known by many office personnel is protected by law from disclosure to any other party. Directory information is information that is generally not considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if disclosed. Under the terms of FERPA, Greenville University has established the following as directory information: 

• Parents' names and addresses

• Student's name, address(es), and telephone numbers

• Date and place of birth

• Participation in officially recognized activities and sports

• Dates of attendance

• Major field(s) of study

• Degrees and awards received

• Denominational or religious preference

• Most recent previous school attended

• Athletic team members: height, weight, and position played

• Photographs (non-captioned)

The previous information may be released for any purpose at the discretion of our institution. However, FERPA states that each student has the right to withhold any or all of the information. Greenville University will honor the student's request to restrict the release of “Directory Information.” Once restricted, that information cannot be released without the written consent of the student. A student may make such a request in the Records Office.

All users of information must check with the Records Office to make sure that any information being used is not protected information.