Family Education Rights and Privacy Act

Official Notification of Rights Under FERPA

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect to their education records. They are:

1. 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, dean, or head of the academic department, or other appropriate official, written requests that identify the record(s) they wish to inspect. The College official 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 College official to whom the request was submitted, that official shall 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 are inaccurate of misleading.

Students may ask the College to amend what they believe is inaccurate or misleading. They should write the 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 by the student, the College will notify the student of the decision and advise the student of his or her right to a hearing regarding the request of amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the student when notified of the right to a hearing.

3. 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 which permits disclosure without consent is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interest. A "school official" is:

1.  a person employed by the College in an administrative, supervisory, academic or research, or support staff position (including law enforcement unit personnel and health staff);
2. a person serving on the Board of Trustees;
3. 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; or
4. a contractor, consultant, volunteer or other outside service provider used by the College to perform institutional services and/or functions.

A school official has a "legitimate educational interest" in the student records and/or the information contained therein if the official needs to review an educational record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibilities, contractual obligations or assumed/assigned duties.

Upon request, the College discloses education records without consent to officials of another school, in which a student seeks or intends to enroll.

4. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the College to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the office that administer FERPA is:

Directory Information

At its discretion, Utica College may provide “directory information” in accordance with the provisions of the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA).  Directory Information is defined as that information which would not generally be considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if disclosed.  Designated directory information at Utica College includes the following:
Students may block the public disclosure of directory information by submitting a Request to Prevent Disclosure of Directory Information form with the Office of the Registrar. Please consider very carefully the consequences of a decision to withhold directory information.  A non-disclosure block will call for Utica College not to release any or all of this “directory information;” thus, any future requests for such information from non-college persons or organizations will be refused.

Utica College 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 on you, Utica College assumes no liability as a result of honoring your instructions that such information be withheld.

Although the initial request may be filed at any time, requests for non-disclosure will be honored by the College until removed, in writing, by the student.


Questions about FERPA, students' privacy rights, and Utica College's compliance procedures may be directed to the Office of the Registrar, 121A White Hall, Utica College, Utica, NY 13502-4892.