The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
The federal government requires that the University obtain—from every enrolled student—a signed Permission to Release Education Information form. Each student may waive or not waive his or her rights of educational privacy as spelled out under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Photographs and other visual images taken by the University of persons, places, or events related to the University's programs and activities are property of the University and may be used at its discretion.
What is FERPA? FERPA provides a student the right to examine his educational records and to request amendment of information believed to be inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student's privacy rights. For further information, please refer to the CMU website. FERPA also allows each student to restrict the release of information or to grant the University limited permission to release information in the student's interest.
Waiving or Not Waiving Individual Rights. When a student completes the Permission to Release Educational Information form, he must either waive or not waive his FERPA rights of privacy.
- Waiving FERPA rights of privacy: When a student waives his FERPA rights of privacy, he grants permission to the University to release CMU Educational Information to individual(s) whom the student names on the form; these persons are usually parents or a spouse. The waiver of FERPA rights applies until such time as the student withdraws permission by written notification to the Office of Student Development.
- Not Waiving FERPA rights of privacy: When a student does not waive his FERPA rights of privacy, he does not grant permission to the University to release CMU Educational Information to individual(s). The non-waiver of FERPA rights applies until such time as the student withdraws permission by written notification to the Office of Student Development.
The FERPA act does, however, authorize disclosure without consent if the disclosure meets one of several conditions. The two most common are listed below. See the FERPA page for more information.
Exception 1: CMU may disclose educational information to parents if the student is a dependent (claimed on the parent's or parents' federal tax forms).
Exception 2: CMU may disclose personally identifiable information without consent if there is an articulable and significant threat to the health or safety of the student or other individuals.
A copy of each student's signed Permission to Release Educational Information form is filed electronically.
Even though a student may not waive his FERPA rights of privacy, this non-waiver does not restrict communications among CMU's educational officials concerning the student's academic performance or progress.
Directory Information and FERPA. Unless specifically prohibited by the student, the University may release "Directory Information" at its discretion for news releases and other purposes which it believes serve the student's interest. "Directory Information" includes
name, mailing and e-mail address, telephone number, dates of attendance, date and place of birth, photograph, grade level, enrollment status, and most recent educational agency/institution attended;awards, honors, degrees, and major field of study; and records of participation and accomplishments in sports and other University activities - for athletes this includes physical factors such as height and weight.
To withhold any Directory Information, within ten days after registration each semester the student must notify the Office of Student Development in writing of the information which may not be released.
Educational Information and FERPA. In the student's interest and without the student's written consent, CMU Educational Information may be shared confidentially with educational officials of the University whose duties require such knowledge. "CMU Educational Information" may include academic records, employment records, financial aid records, and—on a restricted basis—discipline records and some counseling records.
myCMU Grade Entry and FERPA. All CMU instructors and students have access to myCMU, and all students should consult their respective myCMU course sites for grade information.