Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law designed to protect the privacy of a student's educational records. Under FERPA, directory information may be publicly shared by the University, unless the student specifically requests that directory information not be released.

FERPA applies to students presently enrolled at Central State University (CSU), as well as former students and alumni, but it does not apply to applicants seeking admission to the institution.

As noted above, the rights under FERPA transfer from the parents to the student, once the student turns 18 years old or enters a postsecondary institution at any age. However, although the rights under FERPA have now transferred to the student, a school may disclose information from an “eligible student’s” education records to the parents of the student, without the student’s consent, if the student is a dependent for tax purposes. Neither the age of the student nor the parent’s status as a custodial parent is relevant. If a student is claimed as a dependent by either parent for tax purposes, then either parent may have access under this provision. Please note that the University will not disclose student passwords to anyone other than the student, regardless of consent.

If the student is a dependent for income tax purposes, the institution may disclose any education records, including financial records to a student’s parents. If the student is not a dependent, then the student must generally provide consent for the school to disclose the information to the parents.

If a student is attending a postsecondary institution – at any age – the rights under FERPA have transferred to the student. However, in a situation where a student is enrolled in both a high school and a postsecondary institution, the two schools may exchange information on that student. If the student is under 18, the parents still retain the rights under FERPA At the high school and may inspect and review any records sent by the postsecondary institution to the high school.

Yes, if the student is under the age of 21 at the time of the disclosure. Also, if the student is a “dependent student” as defined in FERPA, the institution may disclose such information, regardless of the age of the student.

The University may disclose student information to appropriate persons, including parents of a student, in connection with an emergency if knowledge of the information is necessary to protect the health or safety of the student or other individuals.

CSU has designated the following as directory information: name, degrees and awards received (including dates), address, CSU assigned email address, most recent previous educational institution attended, phone, participation in sports and activities, date of birth, class level, program of study, enrollment status (full/part-time), dates of attendance, and appropriate personal athletic statistical data.

No information will be released to any requestor, including insurance companies and prospective employers, without the expressed written consent of the student. Nor will the student's name be included in the published Dean's List, student directory, commencement brochure or any other institutional publication or press release.

They must submit a FERPA form in the Office of the Registrar indicating a particular, person, business, and/or organization can have access to their records. This form can be found in the Registrar Office or online at http://www.centralstate.edu/current/registrar/index.php?8-8

"University officials" are University employees with general or specific responsibility for promoting the educational objectives of the University or third parties under contract with the University to provide professional, business and similar administrative services related to the University's educational mission.

"University officials" are permitted access to student educational records without student consent as long as those officials have a "legitimate educational interest" in that student's record. Under those limited circumstances the student's permission is not required.

According to the US Department of Education, a school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibilities for CSU.