​Family Education Rights and Privacy Act​

​​Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)​ 

​​The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974 is a federal law requiring colleges and universities to maintain the confidentiality of student educational records. This law also allows students certain rights with respect to their educational records.  

​No one outside the institution should have access to students’ education records and no information will be disclosed without the written consent of the student. Some exceptions allow personnel within the institution may see records for educational interest and persons in an emergency may see records to protect the health or safety of students or other persons.  

​Students have the right to:  

• ​Inspect and review their education records 
• ​Seek to amend their education records 
• ​Have some control over the disclosure of information  
• ​File a complaint for an alleged violation of FERPA rights  

​FERPA allows institutions of higher education to state what information in a student education record is considered directory information. This directory information may be released without prior student consent. Under FERPA, Sam Houston State University has established the following as directory information:  

• ​Legal name 
• ​Permanent address 
• ​Major 
• ​Minor 
• ​Home telephone numbers 
• ​Degrees, diplomas, certificates, dates of awards 
• ​Honors and awards  
• ​Classification 
• ​Extracurricular activities 
• ​Weight, height, and related information of athletic team members 
• ​Students SHSU email address 

​Directory information is available to release to the general public. Students have the right to inform SHSU that any or all of the above information is not to be released by submitting a FERPA Opt-Out form. Forms must be submitted by the 12th class day of the fall and spring semesters and the 4th class day of the summer semester. If a student has opted out, their information will not be released, which includes having their name listed in the commencement program, the honors list, and the Dean's/President's list.  

​​Parental Access to Children’s Educational Records

​​Parents have no inherent rights to inspect an eligible student’s educational records. The right to inspect is limited to solely the student.  

​Records may be released to parents only under the following circumstances:  

• ​Through written consent of the student  
• ​In compliance with a subpoena 
• ​By submission of evidence that the parents declare the student as a dependent on their most recent Federal Income Tax Form  
• ​An institution is not required to disclose information from the student’s educational records to the parents of a dependent student