The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) is a federal law that pertains to the release of and access to student education records. The law applies to all schools that receive funds under applicable programs administered by the U.S. Department of Education.
FERPA Policy
The USNH FERPA Policy gives important information on the protection of student rights and privacy at UNH. The policy outlines your student rights, when we may share your information, and the process for challenging the accuracy of your education records.
FERPA affords you the right to have access to your education records, the right to seek to have your records amended, and the right to have some control over the disclosure of personally identifiable information from your education records.
Annual notice to students is provided in the Student Rights, Rules, and Responsibilities.
Share My Information
Directory Information
One part of the Act allows directory information to be made available to third parties without requiring permission of the student. At UNH, directory information consists of:
- Students name, address, telephone number, and email address
- Major field of study
- Participation in officially recognized sports or activities
- Weight and height of members of athletic teams
- Dates of attendance
- Degrees and awards received
- Most recent previous educational institution or agency attended by the student
- Class
- Honors
- Enrollment Status
Grades are considered directory information to the extent that honor rolls may be published. Transcripts of academic records or GPA may be released to faculty advisors of officially recognized honor societies on campus upon request, unless the student has filed an objection to this specific procedure with the Office of the Registrar. Only faculty members and appropriate administrators have the right to access student records.
Complete a 'Prevent Disclosure of Directory Information' form to prevent the above information being disclosed as public or directory information or records released to honor societies.
Tools for Shared Information
Students have access to tools to grant permission to share records and information with outside parties.
- Parent Portal: Grant a parent or other individual, access to semester grades, financial aid, billing and payment information.
- Prevent Disclosure of Directory Information
- Rescind Non-Disclosure of Directory Information
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs are aimed to 1) help you better understand your rights under FERPA and 2) highlight important University practices on how we manage your personal information.
What you can expect in regards to your student's privacy at UNH.
One of the most significant changes a parent experiences in sending a child to college is the difference in privacy standards for education records at the University. The University of New Hampshire is subject to a federal law called the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) that sets privacy standards for student educational records and information. Read more about the USNH FERPA Policy.
- At UNH, a student may grant a parent, or other individual of the student's choosing, access to semester grades, financial aid, billing and payment information via the Parent Portal.
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs are aimed to 1) help you better understand student rights under FERPA and 2) highlight important University practices on how we manage students personal information.
Learn about your role in protecting student records and information.
Resources
- FERPA Basics for Faculty
- FERPA Basics for Staff
- Student Privacy 101 - Quick 4 minute Department of Education FERPA overview video for K-12 and higher education.
- Training for individuals or groups is available upon request, contact Elizabeth.Smith@unh.edu.
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs are aimed to 1) help you better understand student rights under FERPA and 2) highlight important University practices on how we manage students personal information.
