FERPA Questions for Faculty

May I access confidential information about students?: Access to personally identifiable information contained in educational records may be given to appropriate administrators, faculty members, or staff members who require this access to perform their legitimate educational duties. Faculty members do not have access to student academic records unless their normal job duties specifically require access. This type of access is termed "legitimate educational interest."

How does FERPA affect letters of recommendation?: Writing a letter of recommendation may require express, written permission from the student to allow you 1) to access the student's educational records and 2) to disclose confidential information about the student to a third party. A faculty member may access a student's educational records without the student's express written permission only if specific job duties, such as the duties of an academic advisor, require access to those records. However, a faculty member, or any other appropriate school official, may not disclose confidential information from a student's educational records to a third party without express, written permission from the student. Personal observations about a student may be disclosed without the student's consent.

What information may I disclose to parents?: Without the express, written permission of the student, parents, like all other third parties, may have access only to the student's directory information. If a student has restricted his or her directory information, then directory information is also considered confidential.

How do I properly dispose of confidential information?: Dispose of all material containing confidential information (such as tests, papers, class rosters) by shredding or by placing them in a receptacle intended for the collection of material to be disposed of in a secure manner.

Please contact the Office of the Registrar at Registrarsoffice@esc.edu with any questions or concerns.