FERPA affords eligible students certain rights with respect to their education records. These rights include:

1.     The Right to Inspect and Review – An eligible student has the right to inspect and review their education records within 45 days after the day the University of Georgia receives a request from the eligible student for access. A student should submit to the Registrar a written request that identifies the record(s) the student wishes to inspect. The Registrar will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. If the records are not maintained by the Office of the Registrar, the Registrar shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed.

2.     The Right to Request Amendment – An eligible student has the right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the student believes is inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy rights under FERPA. A student who wishes to ask the school to amend a record should write the school official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record the student wants changed, and specify why it should be changed. If the University of Georgia decides not to amend the record as requested, the University of Georgia 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 Consent to Disclosure – An eligible student has the right to provide written consent before the University of Georgia discloses personally identifiable information (PII) from the student's education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.

4.     Disclosures Permitted without Consent:

(a)   To School Officials with Legitimate Educational Interests – The University of Georgia 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 typically includes a person employed by the University of Georgia in an administrative, supervisory, academic, research, or support staff position; or a student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee. A school official also may include a volunteer or contractor outside of the University of Georgia who performs an institutional service of function for which the school would otherwise use its own employees and who is under the direct control of the school with respect to the use and maintenance of PII from education records, such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent or a student volunteering to assist another school official in performing their tasks. A school official typically has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill their professional responsibilities for the University of Georgia.

(b)   Other Disclosures Permitted without Consent – FERPA permits the disclosure of PII from students’ education records, without consent of the student, if the disclosure meets certain conditions found in § 99.31 of the FERPA regulations. These may include disclosures: (i)  upon request, to officials of another school in which a student seeks or intends to enroll, or where the student is already enrolled if the disclosure is for purposes related to the student’s enrollment or transfer; (ii) in connection with financial aid for which the student has applied or which the student has received, if the information is necessary to determine eligibility for the aid, determine the amount of the aid, determine the conditions of the aid, or enforce the terms and conditions of the aid; (iii) to comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena; (iv) to appropriate officials in connection with a health or safety emergency, subject to § 99.36; and (v) of information the University has designated as “directory information” under § 99.37 (and as further described below).

(c)    Record of Certain Disclosures – Except for disclosures to school officials, disclosures related to some judicial orders or lawfully issued subpoenas, disclosures of directory information, and disclosures to the student, § 99.32 of FERPA regulations requires the institution to record the disclosure.

5.     The Right to File a Complaint – The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the University of Georgia 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

6.     Directory Information – The University of Georgia defines directory information as required by § 99.37 as information that, if released, would not be considered a violation of a student’s privacy.  This information includes:

•        Student’s name
•        Address(es)
•        Phone number(s)
•        Email address(es)
•        Major fields of study
•        Dates of UGA attendance
•        Degrees awarded and received
•        Most recent previous educational institution attended
•        Participation in officially recognized activities and ports
•        Height and weight of athletic team members
•        Employment title and contact information
•        UGA Photograph
•        Thesis/Dissertation title and Faculty Mentor

A student’s directory information may be provided upon request to a third party. 

7.     FERPA Restrictions and Opting out of Directory Information:

(a)   A student does have the option to place a FERPA restriction on their education records which ensures that no directory information will be released to a third party without that student’s written permission. 

(b)   However, placing a FERPA restriction also entails other results that a student should be aware of.  For example, a FERPA restriction placed on a student’s record means that the student’s name will not be included in any press releases concerning Dean’s List, Presidential Scholar, graduation honors, or be included in a commencement program.  A FERPA restriction also prohibits the release of directory information to employers, potential employers, insurance providers, lending providers, and other entities unless the Office of the Registrar receives a signed release from the student.