FERPA Information
FERPA Rights
Public Notice Designating Directory Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Waiver Form
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect to their education records. Those rights are the following:
- The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days of the day the university receives a request for access.
Students should submit to the registrar or appropriate dean, vice president, or other official written requests that identify the record(s) they wish to inspect. The university official will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. If the records are not maintained by the university official to whom the request was submitted, that official shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed.
- The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the student believes are inaccurate or misleading.
Students may ask the university to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading. They should write to the university official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading.
If Marymount decides not to amend the record as requested by the student, the university will notify the student of the decision and advise the student of his or her right to a hearing regarding the requests 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 disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.
One exception that permits disclosure without consent is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the university in an administrative, supervisory, academic, research, or support staff position; a person or company with whom the university has contracted (such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent); a person serving on the board of trustees; or a student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks.
A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility. Upon request, Marymount discloses education records without consent to officials of another school in which a student seeks enrollment or intends to enroll.
- The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by Marymount University to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the office that administers FERPA is:
Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202-4605
Public Notice Designating Directory Information
Marymount designates the following information contained in students’ education records as “directory information.” Directory information may be disclosed by the university without the student’s prior consent pursuant to the provisions of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA). However, the university is not required to disclose directory information and, therefore, carefully evaluates requests for information. At Marymount University, directory information includes the student’s name, mailing address, telephone number, email address, date and place of birth, major field of study, dates of attendance, grade level, enrollment status (undergraduate or graduate; full time or part time), participation in officially recognized activities or sports, height and weight of student-athletes, degrees, honors (including Dean’s List) and awards received, and the most recent educational agency or institution attended.
Virginia law precludes Marymount from disclosing the address, telephone number, or email address of a currently enrolled student, pursuant to 34 C.F.R. § 99.31(a)(11), unless: (a) disclosure is otherwise required by state or federal law; or (b) the disclosure is to students enrolled in the institution for educational purposes or institution business; or (c) the student has affirmatively consented in writing to such disclosure. This subsection does not apply to disclosures, other than those disclosures pursuant to 34 C.F.R. § 99.31(a)(11), permitted under FERPA.
Currently enrolled students may request that the university withhold disclosure of all directory information under FERPA by meeting with the university registrar. Currently enrolled students may meet with the university registrar at any time throughout the year. A request to withhold directory information will immediately affect prospective disclosures. Marymount University assumes that failure on the part of any student to specifically restrict the disclosure of directory information indicates individual approval for disclosure. Former students may not place a new request to restrict disclosure of directory information on their education records, but they may request removal of a previous request for nondisclosure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Please view the guide “Understanding Access to Your Student Records: Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)” for answers to commonly asked questions. If you have further questions, please contact the Office of the Registrar at 703-284-1520 or registrar@marymount.edu.
FERPA Waiver
To authorize release of information to a specific individual(s), please complete the Student Information Release (FERPA Waiver) form. Once this form has been completed and signed, please submit it in person to the Office of the Registrar, located in Rowley 1009. This form may also be emailed to registrar@marymount.edu, faxed to 703-516-4505, or mailed to:
Office of the Registrar
2807 North Glebe Road
Rowley 1009
Arlington, VA 22207
When emailing, faxing, or mailing this form, please include a legible copy of your MU ID card, driver’s license, or passport. This form will not be processed without identification.
