Family Rights & Privacy
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, commonly known as FERPA, is a federal privacy law which applies certain protections to a student’s educational records and contact information. As it pertains to colleges and universities, the law generally requires that written consent be obtained before disclosing a student’s educational records or personally identifiable information – even to that student’s parent(s). The Academy follows FERPA regulations to protect the privacy rights to its students.
The Academy considers as directory information subject to public disclosure the following items: name, current address, phone number, hometown, dates of attendance, degree program, degrees and awards received, date of graduation and most recent/previous school attended. All other student information will not be released to students, parents, or outside agencies unless accompanied by a written release of information from the student.
Students may request that directory information not be released to any person by completing a request to withhold directory information form available in the Registrar’s Office. In an emergency, FERPA permits the disclosure of educational records, including personally identifiable information from those records, without consent, in order to protect the health and/or safety, of the student or others. Records and information may be released to appropriate law enforcement or public health officials, or trained medical personnel. This exception to FERPA’s general consent rule is limited to the period of the emergency and does not allow for a blanket release of information from a student’s records.
All Academy students, staff and faculty are required to review the on-line FERPA Overview Training overview. Questions about the release of student information at the Academy should be forwarded to the Registrar.
On rare occasions, students may wish to grant a third party access to their educational records. Students must consent in writing to have their educational records released, and may do so by completing and submitting the Consent to Release Educational Records form.
Students can submit requests for letters or verification forms that ask for a school official to verify educational information using the Transcript and Education Verification Request online form.
The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act is administered by the U.S. Department of Education, and maintains a website for interested parties.
Students have the right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the school to comply with the requirements of FERPA.
The name and address of the federal agency that administers FERPA is:
Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202-4605