Annual Notification of Rights under FERPA

FERPA is a Federal law (20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99), administered by the Family Policy Compliance Office in the U.S. Department of Education, which protects the privacy of student education records. The law applies to all schools that receive funds under an applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education. FERPA gives eligible students rights with respect to their education records.

1. The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days after the day Aurora University receives a written request for access. A student should complete and submit to the University Registrar a “Request to Inspect and Review Education Records” form found on the Office of the Registrar’s webpage that identifies the record(s) the student wishes to inspect. The University Registrar will arrange for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected.
   
   
2. The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the student believes are inaccurate, misleading or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy rights under FERPA. A student who wishes to ask the University to amend a record should submit to the University Registrar a “Request to Amend or Remove Education Records” completed form found on the Office of the Registrar’s webpage that, clearly identifies the part of the record the student wants changed and specifies why it should be changed. If the University decides not to amend the record as requested, the University will notify the student in writing of the decision and the student’s right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the student when notified of the right to a hearing.
   
   
3. The right to provide written consent before the University discloses personally identifiable information from the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. The University discloses education records without a student’s prior written consent under the FERPA exception for disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the University in an administrative, supervisory, academic or research or support staff position (including law enforcement unit personnel); a person or company with whom the University has contracted as its agent to provide a service instead of using University employees or officials (such as an attorney, auditor or collection agent); a person serving on the Board of Trustees; or a student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks. 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 the University. Upon request, the University also discloses education records without consent to officials of another school in which a student seeks or intends to enroll.
   
   
4. 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. The name and address of the office that administers FERPA is
   
   

   Family Policy Compliance Office
   U.S. Department of Education
   400 Maryland Avenue, SW
   Washington, DC 20202-5901

5. The law allows directory information about students to be made public without specific permission. FERPA defines "directory information" as information contained in the education records of a student that would not generally be considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if disclosed. Aurora University has designated the following items to be directory information:
   
   
   • Name
   • Address
   • Telephone number
   • Email address
   • Date and place of birth
   • Major field of study
   • Grade level
   • Participation in officially recognized activities/sports
   • Weight and height of members of athletic teams
   • Dates of attendance
   • Enrollment status
   • Degrees, honors, and awards received
   • Photograph/electronic image
   • Most recent previous institution attended
     
     
6. Students are entitled, however, to request non-disclosure of directory information. Any request to restrict the release of directory information must be made by the end of the second week of the given term. The “FERPA Nondisclosure of Directory Information Request” form is available on the Office of the Registrar webpage.

All inquiries pertaining to records should be made to the University Registrar at registrar@aurora.edu. The full policy is available in the Aurora University Regulations and Policies Catalog.