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The following are frequently asked questions regarding student records.
1. What is FERPA?
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974, last amended on July 1, 2003, 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.
2. What rights does FERPA grant to students?
Once enrolled at The George Washington University, students have the right to inspect and review their own Education Records, as defined in FERPA, within 45 days of the day the University receives a request for access.
Students have the right to request the amendment of their education records that are believed to be inaccurate or misleading.
Students must consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student's educational records, except in cases that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.
Students have the right to file a complaint with the Department of Education concerning alleged failure by the University to comply with the requirements of FERPA.
3. I want to review my disciplinary file, how do I do that?
A student, wishing to inspect his/her disciplinary file should make a written request to the Office of Student Judicial Services (SJS) identifying the record he/she wishes to review. An official in SJS will notify the student of the time and place where the disciplinary records may be inspected.
4. What records does FERPA exclude from inspection?
FERPA excludes certain records from inspection and these records will not be made available. The following records are specifically excluded from inspection and are not considered educational records as defined by FERPA:
- Financial records of parents.
- Confidential letters and statements of recommendation entered in the education record after January 1, 1975, to which the student has waived right of access.
- Personal notes of institutional, supervisory and educational personnel.
- Campus law enforcement records, except reports of investigations and incidents that have been forwarded for action or information to other University officials.
- Employee files, if the student is employed by the University.
- Medical, psychological-counseling and psychiatric records, or case notes maintained by appropriate professional personnel.
- Admissions record on file in other component units (of the University) in which the student has not yet enrolled.
5. How do I request that my disciplinary record be changed?
If a student believes his/her record is misleading or inaccurate, he/she should contact the Office of Student Judicial Services, clearly identify the part of the record he/she wants changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading.
If the Office of Student Judicial Services decides not to amend the record as requested by the student, SJS will notify the student of the decision and advise the student of his or her right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment.
6. Under what exceptions does FERPA allow disclosure of my record?
The University may disclose, without consent, personally identifiable information contained in the student's education records to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the University in an administrative, supervisory, academic, research or support staff position (including law enforcement unit personnel and health staff); a person or company with whom the University has contracted (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/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 responsibility.
Upon request, the University discloses education records without consent to officials of another school in which a student seeks or intends to enroll.
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