University Student Records Policy

 

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act ("FERPA") affords students certain rights with respect to their educational records. They are:

  1. The right to inspect and review their education records.
  2. The right to request the amendment of their education records to ensure that they are not inaccurate, misleading or otherwise in violation of their privacy or other rights.
  3. The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in their education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. FERPA permits disclosures without consent to "school officials" with "legitimate educational interests." "School officials" include university employees (including law enforcement unit and health personnel); agents of the university (such as an attorney or collection agent); or individuals, including students, serving on official committees or assisting a school official perform his/her tasks. A school official has a "legitimate educational interest" if the official needs to review an educational record to fulfill his/her professional responsibility. Upon request, the university discloses education records without consent to officials of another school in which a student seeks to enroll. California State University, Fullerton has designated as "Directory" information a student's name, date and place of birth, permanent and local address, university-recognized e-mail address(es), telephone number, class level, enrollment status, major, minor, dates of attendance, degrees and awards received, previous educational institutions attended, past and present participation in recognized activities, and weight and height if an athletic team member. For Graduate Assistants, Teaching Associates and Instructional Student Assistants, the university also designates as Directory information the department where the student is employed and the student's status as a Graduate Assistant, Teaching Associate or Instructional Student Assistant. Unless restricted by the student, the campus may release Directory information at any time to any requesting party, including the military and for the development of the university-affiliated marketing programs. Students may choose to limit the release of their Directory information in one four ways:
    • Permit release of all Directory information. Unless restricted by a student, the university may release a student's Directory information at any time to any requesting party, including the military and for the development of university-affiliated marketing programs. After review by the Chancellor's Office, the university will release to the exclusive representative of Unit 11 a student's department and employee status.
    • Permit release of only "Verification" information. This sub-category of Directory information consists of a student's name, class level, enrollment status, major, minor, degrees and awards received, dates of attendance and university-recognized e-mail address(es). The university will release this information for classroom use; in response to requests, including those from financial lenders, employers or insurance companies for verification of degree and enrollment information; and for inclusion in Commencement and honors materials. After review by the Chancellor's Office, the university will release to the exclusive representative of Unit 11 a student's department and employee status. Students who release only "Verification" information will be excluded from all university directories, printed or electronic, that the university may produce or publish.
    • Permit release of only "Class" information. This sub-category of Directory information consists of a student's name, major, minor, degree and awards received, and university-recognized e-mail address(es). The university will release this information only for classroom use and for inclusion in Commencement and honors materials. Students who release only "Class" information will be excluded from all university directories that the university may produce or publish, and the university will not respond to requests, including those from financial lenders, employers or insurance companies, for verification of degree and enrollment information. The university will also not respond to requests for a student's department and employment status.
    • Withhold the release of all Directory information. Withholding the release of all Directory information means that the student will be excluded from all university directories and publications that the university may produce or publish, including Commencement and honors materials, and the university will not verify degree, dates of attendance, enrollment information, or department and employment status without the prior written consent of the student. Students may prevent the release of this information without a specific prior written authorization by logging on to http://my.fullerton.edu or appearing in person at the Admissions and Records Service Center,  on the first floor of Langsdorf Hall.
  4. The right to file with the U.S. Department of Education a complaint concerning alleged failures of the California State University, Fullerton to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The Office that administers FERPA is: Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave. SW , Washington , DC 20202-4605.
  5. The right to obtain a copy of the California State University, Fullerton's student records policy. A copy of this policy may be obtained from the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs.