Are you aware of your rights as a college student under FERPA? Understanding these rights is crucial for maintaining compliance with this important legislation. FERPA, or the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, grants eligible students certain rights when it comes to their education records. Students become eligible when they turn 18 or enroll in a postsecondary institution at any age.
Once eligible, students have the right to inspect and review their education records, request amendments to any inaccurate or misleading information, and consent to the disclosure of personally identifiable information to third parties. It is important for students to be informed of these rights annually.
Education records can come in various forms, including digital, printed, handwritten, audio, video, and more. However, they do not include medical records, law enforcement records, employment records, or any records that are not related to a student’s academic achievements.
FERPA also protects students’ personally identifiable information, such as their name, address, social security number, and more. In most cases, this information cannot be disclosed without the student’s written consent, except for certain exceptions like directory information.
When it comes to maintaining FERPA compliance, IT departments play a crucial role in storing, maintaining, and securing student data. The Infosec Institute recommends several best practices for IT teams to follow, including encryption of data, vulnerability detection, consistent monitoring, and staying up to date with regulations.
Choosing third-party vendors that understand federal student data privacy legislation is also essential. Vendors like Google, Amazon Web Services, and Microsoft have documentation outlining their compliance with FERPA, but it’s important to verify this with any vendor before working with them.
Faculty and staff should also be properly trained on FERPA and cybersecurity best practices to avoid data breaches and protect student information. Failure to comply with FERPA can result in severe penalties, including loss of federal funding and additional state-level consequences.
By maintaining diligent privacy monitoring and data security practices, universities can safeguard student information and avoid costly compliance violations.
Editor’s note: This article was originally published on May 3, 2022.
