7. Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA

FAMILY EDUCATIONAL RIGHTS AND PRIVACY ACT (FERPA)

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law that protects students’ privacy by prohibiting disclosure of education records without their adult consent. For more information about the law visit https://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/ ferpa/index.html.

In order to adhere to the federal law, Westminster College requires students to fill out a Waiver to Release Student Records via their my.westminster account before we can give information about them to any other individual (parent, guardian, etc.). The student will determine what information can be shared (academic records, disciplinary records, financial aid records, student account information, work study/payroll records and disability issues), and with whom this information can be shared. If the waiver is not filled out, College personnel cannot provide information to anyone except the student.

Students can make changes to their FERPA form at any time via their my.westminster account. The College maintains a record of any changes the student makes. The form is found on my.westminster under the Academics tab/ Waiver to Release Student Records-FERPA.