FERPA Guidelines for Parents and Families of UWSP Students
The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 as amended entitle students to review "official records, files, and data directly related" to the students which the university maintains. Students may also request a hearing regarding any alleged "inaccurate, misleading, or inappropriate" information. In most circumstances, the university will not release information from student’s records to third parties without their consent. An interpretation of the law is printed below, and copies of it are available in the Office of the Registrar, Room 101, Student Services Center.
The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, requires that students be advised of their rights concerning their education records and of certain categories of public information which the university has designated "directory information."
What is meant by the term "directory information?"
The university, in accordance with the act, has designated the following categories of information about students as public unless they choose to exercise your right to have any or all of this information withheld. This information will be routinely released to any inquirer unless students request that all or part of this be withheld.
These categories are:
- Name
- Home address
- Home telephone number
- Local address
- Local telephone number
- E-mail address
- Place of birth
- Major/minor field of study, and college
- Participation in officially recognized university activities and sports
- Weight and height of members of athletics teams
- Attendance (including beginning, ending, registration and withdrawal dates; credits carried in a term; current classification; and graduation dates)
- Degrees and awards received (type of degree and date granted)
- The most recent previous educational agency or institution attended
- Name of parents or guardian
- High School from which students graduated
When your student was in elementary and high school, the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) gave you and your student rights to access and control your student's educational records. Now that your student is in college, these same laws transfer ownership of the records directly to your son or daughter.
According to FERPA, college students are considered responsible adults and are allowed to determine who will receive information about them. We at UWSP believe that this communication between parent and student will foster long term growth in relationships. The quickest, easiest way for you to receive information about your students grades, financial statement, or other student information is for him/her to provide it to you. Students can look information up online, print it off, and give or e-mail a copy to their parents. Student records are available through their accesSPoint account.
Classroom Performance -- Federal law affords students privacy regarding nearly all aspects of their academic performance. This includes any information regarding their performance in the classroom including grades, test scores, and class schedules. When any individual, including a parent/guardian(s) or potential employer, contacts a University official or professor regarding a student's academic performance, the official/professor must first obtain written permission from the student before releasing that information. This release form protects the rights of the student as well as affording protection to University personnel.
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