Colgate Calendars
Registrar Services
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
("Buckley
Amendment")
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
(FERPA)--often
referred to as the "Buckley Amendment" after its
sponsor, Senator James Buckley of New York-- affords students certain rights with respect
to their educational
records. They are:
1. The right to inspect and review
the student's educational records within 45 days of the day the
University receives his/her request for access.
Students should submit to the Registrar, Dean,
Head of the Academic Department, or other appropriate official,
written requests that identify the
record(s) they wish to inspect.
The University official will make arrangements
for access and notify the student of the time and the
place where the records may be inspected. If the records
are not maintained by the University
official to whom the request was submitted, that official should advise the
student of the correct
official to whom the request should be addressed.
2. The right to request the
amendment of the student's educational records that the student
believes are inaccurate or misleading.
Students may ask the University to amend a
record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading.
They should write the University 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 as requested by the student, the University will
notify the student of the decision and advise the student
of his/her 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 consent to
disclosure of personally identifiable information contained in the
student's educational records, except to the extent that
FERPA authorizes disclosure without
consent.
One exception which permits disclosures without
consent is 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 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 officer has a legitimate interest if
the official needs to review an education record in order
to fulfill his/her professional responsibility.
"Directory information"
may be disclosed without the student's consent. "Directory
information" includes the student's name, address, telephone listing,
e-mail address, date and place of birth, major field of study, participation in officially recognized activities and sports,
weight and height of members of athletic teams, photographs, dates of attendance, degrees and awards
received, and the most previous educational agency or institution attended by the student and any other similar
information.
A student has the right to withhold the public
release of any or all information directly pertaining to him/her by giving advance notice to the Dean of the
College. Such advance notice must be received in the Office of the Dean of the College prior to the end of the
drop/add period for each team.
Questions and Complaints
Any questions pertaining to Colgate University's policy under the federal regulations
protecting the privacy rights
of students should be referred to the Office of the Dean of the College. Complaints
regarding alleged violations by
the University of rights protected by the federal statute and regulations may be submitted
to: Family Policy
Compliance Office, U. S. Dept. of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, D.C.
20202-4605
Please see the Colgate Student Handbook for complete information regarding student rights and responsibilities.
Return to Office of the Registrar