FERPA Information

The right to inspect and review the student’s educational record.
Students should submit to the Office of the Registrar a written request that identifies the record(s) they wish to inspect. The Registrar will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be viewed. The review by the student must occur, by law, within 45 days of receipt of the request. The student must provide photo identification in order to view the records. The University is not required to provide copies of materials in the records unless, for reasons such as a great distance, it is impossible for the student to inspect the records in person.

The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the student believes are inaccurate or misleading.
Students may ask the University to amend a record they believe is inaccurate or misleading. The student should write to the official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. If the University decides not to amend the record, the student will be notified of their right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the student with the notification of the right to a hearing.

The rights of challenge under FERPA are not intended to allow students to contest, for example, a grade in a course because the student felt the assigned grade should have been higher.

The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.
One exception that permits disclosure without consent is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. 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 responsibility. The University may disclose education records in certain other circumstances, without consent. They are:

• To officials of other schools at which a student seeks or intends to enroll, upon request.
• To appropriate parties in connection with financial aid to a student.
• To accrediting organizations.
• To comply with a judicial order or a lawfully issued subpoena.
• To appropriate parties who need to know in cases of health and safety emergencies.
• To parents of students who have established the student’s status as a dependent according to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, Section 152.

The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the University to comply with the requirements of FERPA.
Students are encouraged to first contact the Registrar’s Office, where the FERPA representative will assist the student in receiving local resolution and to confirm that all resources have been exhausted before a formal complaint is filed. If that effort is not satisfactory, a student may file a complaint with the Department of Education at the following address:

Family Policy Compliance Office
U. S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202-4605
202-260-3887

Directory Information
The law allows the University to designate personally identifiable information contained in a student’s educational record as “directory information.” This information may be disclosed, at the University’s discretion, without a student’s prior consent. Information designated by Bucknell as directory information includes:

• Name
• Address (permanent and local)
• Telephone number
• Major field of study
• Achievements, degrees, academic awards or honors
• Dates of attendance
• Enrollment status
• Level of study
• Weight and height — if a member of athletic teams
• Photograph
• Participation in extracurricular activities
• University email address

To avoid release of Directory Information, a student must advise the Registrar’s Office, in writing, that any or all directory information about that student should not be released. Notification must be done in the fall semester and prior to the 10th day of classes in order not to appear in the University Directory for that year. The non-disclosure agreement signed by the student will remain in effect throughout the student’s academic stay at Bucknell or until such time that the student, again in writing, releases the non-disclosure agreement.

Students should understand that restricting directory information will result in:

• The Registrar’s Office refusing to release any information to friends, family members or colleagues.
• The student’s address, telephone number and email address not appearing in the University Student Directory.

Definitions

For the purposes of this policy, Bucknell University has used the following definitions:

Student:Any individual who is 18 years of age or who has enrolled in any academic offering of the University. For newly admitted students the University defines “enrolled” as having accepted the University’s offer of admission and paid the enrollment deposit.

School Official:Those members of the institution who act in the student’s educational interest within the limitations of their “need to know.” These may include faculty, deans, administrators, clerical and professional employees and other persons, including student employees or agents, who manage or need to view student education record information in the context of their responsibilities.

Education records:Records directly related to a student and maintained by the institution or by a party acting for the institution. The definition of education records does not include:

• Records maintained by a law enforcement unit of the University.
• Records maintained by Bucknell Student Health and the Counseling & Student Development Center if the records are used only for treatment of a student and made available only to those persons providing treatment.
• Records relating to individuals who are employed by the University that are made and maintained in the normal course of business and relate exclusively to individuals in their capacity as employees and are not available for other purposes.
• Records maintained by University Advancement containing information about an individual who is no longer a student attending Bucknell.

Directory Information:Information contained in an education record of a student that generally would not be considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if disclosed.