FERPA Annual Notification: August 2020
The two areas of importance are your rights as a student and the notification of the request to withhold directory information. Please keep in mind that CUSM follows the process of third party written consent. This means that students must provide written consent that follows the format specified in FERPA before any education records may be released to any third party, including the students’ parents, relatives, friends, other students, and employers. Particularly sensitive information includes but is not limited to student’s social security numbers, race/ethnicity, gender, nationality, grades, academic performance, and disciplinary records.
I. Student Rights under FERPA
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords eligible students certain rights with respect to their education records. (An "eligible student" under FERPA is a student who is 18 years of age or older or who attends a postsecondary institution at any age.) Eligible students’ rights include the following:
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The right to inspect and review their educational records.
Educational records are made available during working hours for inspection and review to current and formerly enrolled students within 10 business days following completion and filing of a Request to Inspect and Review Records form with the Registrar office. In no case will a student have to wait more than 45 days. The Registrar will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. A student will be required to establish identity with a picture ID to see his or her record. If the records are not maintained by that office, the Registrar will work in conjunction with the department to obtain the information requested. -
The right to seek the amendment of their educational records.
A student who wishes to ask CUSM-SOM to amend a record should submit a completed Request to Inspect and Review Records form to the Registrar clearly identifying the part of the record the student wants to be changed and specifying why it should be changed. If the university decides not to amend the record as requested, CUSM 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. -
The right to consent to the disclosure of their educational records.
Student record information is confidential and private. In accordance with both federal law and our policy, CUSM does not release student record information without the prior written consent of the student. However, CUSM in compliance with FERPA, may disclose personal information without the student’s prior consent as listed in the Disclosure of Education Record Without Student Consent section below. -
The right to file a complain with the FERPA office in Washington, D.C.
Students have a right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by CUSM to comply with the requirements of FERPA.
Family Policy Compliance Office U.S. Department of Education 400 Maryland Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20202-4605
II. Directory Information & Request to Withhold Directory Information form (location)
FERPA has specifically identified certain information called directory information that may be disclosed without student consent. However, CUSM in compliance with FERPA, may disclose personally identifiable information without the student’s prior consent as listed in the Disclosure of Education Record Without Student Consent section. If you wish to withhold the disclosure of all the items of directory information, you are required to complete the Request to Withhold Directory Information form located in the Canvas Portal under Student Resources/Forms and email to the Registrar’s office by Friday, August 28th. This form must be submitted annually within the first two weeks of class, at the beginning of the fall semester.
CUSM designates the following items as directory information:
- Student's Name
- Mailing Address & Phone Number
- CUSM email Address
- Class standing
- Major field of study
- Dates of attendance
- Extracurricular activities
- Admission or enrollment status (admitted, full-time, part-time)
- Degrees and awards earned
- Photograph
- Leadership positions
- Hometown
Note: The right to restrict disclosure of directory information does not include the right to remain anonymous in class and may not be used to hinder classroom communication.
Comments/Questions
Questions related to FERPA should be directed to the Registrar Office at registrar@cusm.org.
To review the entire FERPA Policy, please see the Accreditations and Approvals page and select the 2020-2021 University Student Catalog/Handbook link.