Seattle University's policy regarding the confidentiality of student records is in compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA). The FERPA Record Guidelines: Disclosure of
Student Information is available from the Office of the Registrar website located in the academic policies
directory..
It is University policy to maintain as confidential all personally identifiable information in education records
except those considered to be "directory information." Directory information is defined as that information
which would not generally be considered harmful or an invasion of privacy. Designated directory
information at Seattle University includes student name, campus address (building only), campus telephone, SU e-mail address, major field of study, dates of attendance, degrees and awards received, grade level, enrollment status, name of the most recent previous educational agency or institution attended, participation
in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of members of athletic teams, and photographs for University use only.
Students have the right to request that directory information not be disclosed to third parties and may do so by submitting their request in writing to the Office of the Registrar by the last day to register each term, as announced in the University Calendar. Directory information will be withheld indefinitely until the request
to withhold disclosure is revoked in writing and submitted to the Office of the Registrar. The non-disclosure
of directory information will call for Seattle University not to release any directory information; thus, any
future requests for such information from non-institutional persons or organizations will be refused. The
University will honor your request to withhold directory information but cannot assume responsibility to
contact you for subsequent permission to release this information. Regardless of the effect upon you, Seattle
University assumes no liability as a result of honoring your instructions that such information be withheld.
FERPA also affords students certain rights with respect to their education records. These rights are:
(1) 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 must submit written requests identifying the record(s) they wish to inspect to the registrar,
dean, head of the academic department, vice president of student development, or other appropriate
official. The form titled Inspect and Review Educational Records Request allows students to request
toreview the academic file maintained by the Office of the Registrar. The form may be retrieved
from the Office of the Registrar website by accessing this link:
http://seattleu.edu/registrar/filelib/1460.pdf . Other areas of the university have developed separate
request processes and must be contacted directly for details of how to make a formal records request.
Following receipt of the written request, each office or department 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 will advise
the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed.
(2) The right to request the amendment of the student's education records that the student believes
is inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student's privacy rights.
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 identifying the part of
the record they want changed and specifying why it is inaccurate or misleading. If the University
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 the right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment.
Additional information about the hearing procedures will be provided to the student along with
notification of the right to a hearing.
(3) The right to consent to disclosure of personally identifiable information contained in the
student's education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without
consent.
FERPA permits disclosure without consent to school officials with legitimate educational interests.
A school official is defined as a person employed by the University in an administrative, supervisory,
academic or research, or support staff position (including law enforcement unit personnel and health
staff); a person or company with whom the University has contracted for a service or operations
function (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.
The University may also disclose personally identifiable information from a student's education
records without the student's consent if the disclosure is to parents of "dependent" children as defined
by the Internal Revenue Code, Section 152; or to officials of another school in which a student seeks
or intends to enroll.
Furthermore, the University is required by law (the Solomon Amendment) to provide the name and
address of all students to any legitimate military recruiter who makes such a request in writing to the
Office of the Registrar. This applies even if a student has submitted a request to withhold directory
information.
FERPA regulations detail other exceptions that allow disclosure without a student's consent.
(4) The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures
by Seattle 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
Revised 8/7/08