PROCEDURE NUMBER:

410.10.02E

OFFICE OF REGISTRATION AND RECORDS

ISSUE/EFFECTIVE DATE:
Fall 1995
Revised: Fall 2006

PROCEDURE:
FERPA
Parent Fact Sheet

PURPOSE: To advise parents of the provisions contained in FERPA and the ability of students to waive their rights.

FAMILY/PARENT FACT SHEET

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is federal legislation that establishes guidelines governing the way educational institutions maintain and supervise student records. The law requires the University to notify parents and students annually how it complies with its requirements. The law is intended to assure students access to their official records; to provide a means of review should a student question the accuracy of a record; to assure that these records are used for legitimate educational purposes and to control the release of records. The law permits the release of records without the prior consent of the student to appropriate University personnel and, if the student is claimed as a financial dependent on either parent's most recent federal income tax return, to parents as well as other circumstances as set forth in the law.

Monmouth University may in its discretion permit parents access to their students' education records with the following:

1. A waiver form completed by the student giving consent for the release of records to the parent seeking the records;
- or -
2. Parents furnish proof to the University that the student is claimed as a financial dependent on either parent's most recent federal income tax return.

PROCEDURES:

1. Students wishing to waive their FERPA privacy rights and have records disclosed to another individual should complete a waiver form at the beginning of the fall semester. FERPA forms are available online from the WEBstudent menu by selecting "e-FORMS." The form(s) are to be completed online and submitted electronically to the Office of Registration and Records for processing. The waiver form(s) will be in effect for a period of one year unless permission to disclose is revoked in writing by the student. Waiver forms must be renewed at the beginning of each academic year.
2. Parents wishing access to student records should have their son or daughter complete the waiver form online and submit it to the Office of Registration and Records electronically. If the waiver form is not completed, then the following shall apply:
1. If a parent has a current financial aid form (FAFSA) on file in the Office of Financial Aid, the Office of Registration and Records will have that office verify in writing that the student is claimed as a financial dependent on either parent's most recent federal income tax return.
2. If a current FAFSA is not on file, parents are requested to send a copy of the first page of their most recent federal income tax return to the Office of Registration and Records. All references to income, interest income, dividends, adjusted gross income, etc., may be blackened out.
3. Records available for release will be in accordance with those established in the Monmouth University Student Records Policy. A copy of this policy can be found on file in the Office of Registration and Records and the Office of the Vice President for Student Services.

Further information regarding access to student records can be obtained through the Office of Registration and Records, the Office of Student Services, or Monmouth University's Office of the General Counsel.