Student Records and Information

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law governing how student academic, financial, disciplinary, and immunization records, among others (Education Records), and information derived from them, are managed. Education Records protected by FERPA refer to any records maintained by Berkeley College that are directly related to a student, with certain exceptions. Generally, FERPA prohibits educational institutions from disclosing private student information and records (such as grades, disciplinary records, and Social Security numbers) without prior consent from the student. It also gives students the right to review many of their Education Records and correct errors.

FERPA permits institutions to disclose some Education Records under specific conditions. For example, certain student information may be disclosed in emergencies involving threats to the health or safety of the student or the College community, or when a student is injured or missing for a defined period of time without explanation (all students are required to furnish emergency contact information for this purpose). Institutions are also permitted to designate less private categories of "Directory Information" that may be disclosed without a student’s consent, unless the student has specifically instructed the Registrar Department in writing not to share such information. At Berkeley, Directory Information includes a student’s name, address, telephone number, email address, student number, date and place of birth, major field(s) of study, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, dates of attendance, degrees, honors and awards received, most recent previous school attended, and likeness (photograph, video, or other form).

Students wishing to prevent the disclosure of Directory Information should submit a FERPA Opt-out eForm, which is available at FERPA Opt-Out of Routine Sharing of Student Directory Info.

Students may authorize the disclosure of student records by submitting a FERPA Waiver eForm, which is available at FERPA Authorization to Release Student Records.

Click to see Student Rights under FERPA.

Click for more detailed policy information.