Student Records Privacy/FERPA

Student Records Privacy / Confidentiality of Student Records

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. Student education records are confidential, and in most circumstances, will not be released without the student’s prior written consent. Exceptions to this include, but are not limited to, disclosure of directory information and disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. "School officials" or "College officials" are College employees with general or specific responsibility for promoting the educational objectives of the College or third parties under contract with the College to provide professional, business and similar administrative services related to the College's educational mission. For more information, see the Annual Notification of Rights and Frequently Asked Questions.

Once a student reaches 18 years of age or attends a postsecondary institution, he or she becomes an "eligible student," and all rights formerly given to parents under FERPA transfer to the student. As defined by FERPA, a student is any individual who is or has been in attendance at an educational institution. As defined by Agnes Scott, FERPA rights will apply to Agnes Scott students once they are in attendance at the College. A student will be considered “in attendance” from the date they move into Agnes Scott residential housing or attend a class, whichever is sooner.

A student may choose to authorize the release of their education record to a specific person or persons by submitting a FERPA Waiver form to the Office of Academic Advising or to the Office of the Registrar. A student may also request that all or some of their directory information, including photograph, not be released by submitting a data exclusion request to the Office of the Registrar.

Questions related to FERPA should be directed to the Office of the Registrar.