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FERPA at a Glance: A Guide for Parents

Overview

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (also known as FERPA or the Buckley Amendment) is federal legislation enacted in 1974 that protects the privacy of student records. It grants students the right to access their own educational records as well as limiting, for privacy reasons, the release of those same records to anyone other than the student and/or the student's designee. FERPA applies to all current and former students of the university.

RIGHTS under FERPA

Under FERPA, students have the right to:

  • inspect and review their education records
  • control the disclosure of information from their education records
  • seek to amend their education records under certain circumstances

When do FERPA Rights Begin?

FERPA rights begin when you register and attend your first class.

WHAT are education records?

Education records are defined as records that contain information directly related to a student and are maintained by an educational institution or by a party acting for the institution. Examples are enrollment and grade records, applications for university scholarships, financial aid records, student account records, and information contained within the student information system.

Education records do not include sole possession documents (such as personal notes created and maintained by individual faculty or staff), law enforcement records, employment records where employment is not tied to student status, medical records, and records containing information about an individual that are created after he or she is no longer a student at that institution (i.e., alumni records).

Can i have access to my child's education records?

At the elementary and secondary school level, FERPA gives parents the right to access education records. When a student reaches 18 years of age or is attending an institution of post-secondary education, FERPA rights transfer from parent to student. Therefore, at the post-secondary (college) level, parents have no legal rights to inspect their child's education records.

Information regarding education records is best obtained by direct communication between the parent and the student. If desired, students may grant view-only access to their billing accounts and financial aid information through MyNewSchool. Students can also grant proxy access to their family members to view the following academic information:

  • Student Information
  • Student Schedule
  • Week at a Glance
  • Holds
  • Unofficial Transcript

Students can set up access by going to my.newschool.edu, selecting "Sharing Academic Information" under the Student Resources page and then following the instructions to create or delete a proxy.

How can I make sure university-related bills are sent to me?

The university uses online billing statements. Students view their statements through MyNew School. A parent can have access to student billing account and financial aid information through MyNewSchool if the student grants the parent access to his or her account as an authorized user.

What is considered directory information?

The New School has designated the following as directory information and the Registrar's Office may release it unless the student has submitted a Request to Withhold Disclosure of Directory Information to the Registrar's Office.

  • Student name
  • Major field of study
  • Dates of attendance
  • Full-time or part-time enrollment status
  • Year level
  • Degrees and awards received, including naming to the Dean's List
  • Most recent previous educational institution attended
  • Address, phone number, photograph, email address
  • Date and place of birth

will i be notified if my child is placed on academic probation?

No. Information about grades and academic standing is provided directly to students.

will i be notified if my child is hurt or in danger?

If we learn of an emergency involving one of our students, we will attempt to notify the student's parents only in accordance with specific departmental emergency notification policy and procedures. Hospitals and police agencies may follow their own notification protocols. Students are responsible for submitting their emergency contact information in MyNewSchool and with other departments and programs that requests and maintain emergency contact information, such as University Housing or study abroad programs.

I've heard about a ferpa provision that allows parents access to their student's record if they are a dependent for federal tax purposes. what position has the university taken regarding this provision?

FERPA regulations authorize - but do not require - disclosure of student records to parents of a student who is claimed as a dependent for federal tax purposes. The New School's student record privacy policy does not take the tax dependent status into consideration.

I’ve heard about a FERPA provision allowing notice to parents when a student violates alcohol or drug laws. What position has the university taken on this rule?

FERPA regulations authorize—but do not require—disclosure to parents of “the student's violation of any Federal, State, or local law, or of any rule or policy of the institution, governing the use or possession of alcohol or a controlled substance.” The New School does not routinely disclose drug and alcohol violations to parents. However, because of the health and safety risk inherent in alcohol and other drug misuse, the New School will notify parents/family members of first-year students under the age of 21 if:

  • The student has committed a violation accompanied by other serious concerns, such as needing medical attention, significantly damaging property, or at risk for losing their housing privilege as a result of the violation.
  • The student has had repeated alcohol or drug violations.

In these cases, staff at Student Conduct and Community Standards will contact the parents/guardians.

Will I be informed if my child is treated at Student Health Services (SHS)?

By law, SHS maintains confidentiality for students 18 and older and emancipated minors. These students must consent to the release of medical information. Parents of minors, however, are entitled to medical information, except for information about contraception, pregnancy testing,sexually transmitted disease, and substance abuse services. SHS clinicians encourage students totalk to parents when appropriate and will contact parents of minors for serious conditions andsome procedures. SHS clinicians will also contact parents of students 18 and older for serious conditions, with student permission.

Will I be informed if my child is seeing a counselor at Counseling Services?

State laws and professional ethical codes preclude The New School from sharing student counseling records with third parties, including parents, without the student’s consent. There are important policy reasons supporting these confidentiality requirements, including the proven therapeutic benefits associated with encouraging students to talk openly and candidly with counselor — without fear that their conversations will be reported to others. Confidentiality, of course, is not absolute. It can be broken (and parents notified, as appropriate) if counselors determine that a student poses an imminent danger to self or to an identifiable third party.

To whom can you direct questions?

Any questions about FERPA can be directed to the Registrar's Office at regandrecords@newschool.edu



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