Notification of Student Rights With Respect to Education Records

Idaho State University (ISU) in compliance with the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is responsible for providing notice to students of their rights under FERPA, which includes maintaining the privacy of student records and evaluating requests for the release of information from education records. FERPA grants the following rights to all student with respect to education records:

1. The right to inspect and review student education records within 45 days after the University receives a written 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 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 shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed.

1. The right to request an amendment of a student's education record that the student believes is inaccurate or misleading. Students should 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 or 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.

1. The right to consent to disclosures of personally-identifiable non-directory information contained in a student’s education records, except for those disclosures permitted under FERPA. FERPA permits disclosures of education records to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is defined as a person employed by the University in an administrative, supervisory, academic, 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, or software company that stores student information); a person serving on the Board of Trustees; or a person 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 responsibility.

1. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by Idaho State University to comply with the requirements of FERPA.

Family Policy Compliance Office

U.S. Department of Education

400 Maryland Avenue, SW

Washington, DC 20202-4604

Notice of Directory Information

FERPA permits the release of “Directory Information” without student consent. FERPA requires a university to define and provide notice to students of information that is included within the term Directory Information. ISU has defined Directory Information to include the following:

• Student name
• Address listings
• Telephone listings
• Photograph
• E-mail address
• Dates of attendance
• Enrollment status
• Class level
• Full-Time/Part-Time status
• College
• Major field of study
• Degree types and dates
• Club and athletic participation records
• Height and weight of members of athletic teams
• Scholarships Awarded
• University Leadership Position
• High-School attended
• Dean’s list and other awards received.

Students who wish to restrict disclosures of their directory information, as listed above, may do so by contacting the Registrar and requesting a Non-Disclosure hold.

Placing a Non-Disclosure hold on student records will cause any and all future requests for directory information from non-institutional persons and organizations, including scholarship organizations, prospective employers, etc., to be denied.   The restriction will remain in place after the student has left ISU.  Directory information will continue to be used by ISU for purposes of emergency notification, including Rave alerts to the campus community, irrespective of any Non-Disclosure hold.

Non-Directory Information

Student consent must be obtained before disclosing non-directory information, except where the disclosure is permitted under FERPA. Any information not defined explicitly as directory information is considered non-directory information. FERPA permits the disclosure of non-directory information without student consent in circumstances outlined below:

• School faculty and staff who have a need to know to fulfill their official responsibilities.
• Other schools to which a student is transferring.
• Accrediting organizations.
• Organizations doing certain studies for or on behalf of the University.
• Appropriate parties in connection with financial aid to a student.
• Records can be released to parents of an eligible student if the student is a dependent for IRS tax purposes (except for health records or counseling records, which will not be disclosed without student consent or as required by law).
• Certain government officials in connection with local, state or federally-supported education programs.
• To individuals who have obtained court orders or subpoenas.
• Faculty and school officials who have a need to know concerning disciplinary action taken against a student.
• Persons who need to know in cases of health and safety emergencies when necessary to protect the health and safety of the student and/or others.

FERPA gives certain rights to parents regarding their children's educational records at the primary and secondary level. These rights transfer to the student upon reaching 18 years of age or when a student attends any school at the post-secondary level.

Under FERPA a student does not have a right to access and review certain records including:

• Financial information submitted by parents.
• Confidential letters and recommendations placed in the student's file before 01/01/75.
• Confidential letters, etc., associated with admissions, employment, job placement or honors to which a student has waived rights of inspection and review.
• Educational records containing information about other students such as grades, test scores, etc.

Consumer Information Disclosures

ISU is required by law to make available to enrolled students, prospective students, and their parents, certain information about its operations. Such information pertains to: (1) general institutional operation, (2) financial aid, (3) general completion and graduation rates, (4) annual security report, (5) completion and graduation rates for student athletes, and (6) athletic program participation rates and financial support.

• To meet the requirement, ISU has provided the link below. Specific website addresses are specified for all information items, as well as telephone numbers and e-mail addresses of the University officials who can respond to questions or information requests in their specific areas.
• Hard copies of any of the information displayed on the listed website below are available upon request.

https://www.isu.edu/financialaid/consumer-information/