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Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act Information

FERPA Guide – Students
FERPA Guide – Parents

The College provides annual notification of the required information concerning our compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) in the Cedar Crest College Student Handbook. Please refer to that document for detailed information. This document is a brief summary of student rights under the Act.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect to their educational records. The types and locations of educational records are listed in the Student Handbook.

Rights under FERPA include:

  1. The right to inspect and review educational records within 45 days of the day the college receives a request for access. Normally access to the record is granted in a much quicker time frame. The College will make arrangements for access and notify the student of a time and place where the records may be inspected. If the official to whom the request was submitted does not maintain the records, that official shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed.
  2. The right to request the amendment of the educational record that the student believes is inaccurate or misleading. The student should write to the College official responsible for the record, identifying the part of the record they want changed. They must specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. If the College decides not to amend the record the student will be notified of that decision and of their right to a hearing.
  3. The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s educational record, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. Disclosure is permitted to college officials, including persons or organizations under contract to the College, with a legitimate educational interest. A College official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review the record in order to fulfill their professional responsibility. Disclosure is also permitted to the parents of an eligible student who claim the student as a dependent for income tax purposes. In addition, Directory Information may be released without written consent unless the College is notified in writing not to disclose. Other instances are described in the Student Handbook.
  4. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by Cedar Crest College to comply with the requirements of FERPA.

Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
600 Independence Avenue, SW
WASHINGTON DC 20202-4605