The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect to their education records. These rights include:
The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days of the day the College receives a request for access
Students should submit to the registrar signed requests that identify the record(s) they wish to inspect. The registrar will make arrangements for access and
notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected, at which time the student must present an SLC ID card or government-issued photo ID. If the records are not maintained by the registrar, the registrar shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed.
The right to request amendment of the student’s education records that the student believes are inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy rights under FERPA
A student who wishes to ask the College to amend a record should write to the dean of studies and student life (or other College official responsible for the record), clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. If the College decides not to amend the record as requested, the student will be notified in writing of the decision and the student’s right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. The hearing panel will consist of the dean of the college (or designee of the dean of the college) and/or the dean of studies and student life, and the relevant faculty members. Please note that the assignment of credit and grade, as well as the narrative evaluation and critical abilities assessment submitted by the teacher, is solely the purview of the course instructor and not subject to this provision.
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 College
in an administrative, supervisory, academic, research, or support staff position (including law enforcement unit personnel and health staff); a person or company with whom the College 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 the Committee on Student Work, or assisting another school official. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record to fulfill a professional responsibility for the College.
Upon request, the College may also disclose education records without consent to officials of another school in which a student seeks or intends to enroll or where the student has already enrolled, if the disclosure is for purposes related to the student’s enrollment or transfer. This disclosure may include updated or corrected information.
The right to file a complaint with the US Department of Education concerning alleged failures by Sarah Lawrence College to comply with the requirements of FERPA
Complaints should be addressed to the Family Compliance Office, US Department of Education,
400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20202-5920.
At its discretion, the College will release directory information, as allowed by FERPA, without prior consent unless the student specifically asks that prior consent be obtained. Directory information will include only a student’s name, address, telephone number, class, enrollment status, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, and degrees received. This information is intended only for use within the College community with the following exceptions: (1) a student’s name may be used in connection with announcements or reports of College activities or sports, and (2) the verification of a student’s enrollment and degree(s) received may be released without prior consent in response to legitimate inquiries from outside the College community. Otherwise, it is longstanding College policy not to release any information about a student. In certain circumstances, the College may release student information in matters involving safety or health emergencies; in compliance with a lawfully issued subpoena or judicial order; to federal, state, and local authorities involving an audit or evaluation of compliance with educational programs; in connection with financial aid (including veterans benefits); to organizations conducting studies for or on behalf of educational institutions; in connection with the release of the results of a disciplinary hearing to an alleged victim of a crime of violence or non-forcible sex offense; to parents of a student regarding the student’s violation of any federal, state, or local law, or of any rule or policy of the school, governing the use or possession of alcohol or a controlled substance if the school determines the student committed a disciplinary violation and, in matters involving violation of the alcohol policy, the student is under the age of 21; as required by other applicable state or federal regulations; or otherwise allowed under FERPA. Students may withhold directory information by notifying the registrar in writing by the end of the first week of classes for the fall term. Requests for nondisclosure will be honored for only one year and must be filed annually. Please note that a nondisclosure request applies to all elements of directory information. The College does not apply nondisclosure requests differentially to the various directory information data elements.
Questions concerning the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act may be referred to the Office of the Registrar.