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Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords eligible students certain rights with respect to their education records. An 鈥渆ligible student鈥� under FERPA is a student who is 18 years of age or older or who attends a postsecondary institution. These rights include:

The right to inspect and review the student鈥檚 education records within 45 days of the day Western University of Health Sciences receives a request for access.
Students should submit to the registrar, dean, head of the academic department, or other appropriate official, a written request that identifies the record(s) they wish to inspect. The University 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 University official to whom the request was submitted, that official shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed.

The right to request the amendment of the student鈥檚 education records that the student believes are inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student鈥檚 privacy rights under FERPA.
A student who wishes to ask the school to amend a record should write the school official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record the student wants changed, and specify why it should be changed. If the school decides not to amend the record as requested, the school will notify the student in writing of the decision and the student鈥檚 right to a hearing regarding the request for the amendment along with additional information regarding the hearing procedures.

The right to provide written consent before the University discloses personally identifiable information (PII) from the student鈥檚 education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.
The school discloses education records without a student鈥檚 prior written consent under the FERPA exception for disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by Western University of Health Sciences in an administrative, supervisory, academic, research or support staff position (including law enforcement unit personnel and health staff); a person serving on the board of trustees; or a student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee. A school official also may include a volunteer or contractor outside of Western University of Health Sciences who performs an institutional service or function for which the school would otherwise use its own employees and who is under direct control of the school with respect to the use and maintenance of PII from education records, such as an attorney, auditor, collection agent or a student volunteering to assist another school official in performing his or her tasks. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an educational record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibilities to Western University of Health Sciences. Upon request, the school also discloses education records without consent to officials of another school in which the student seeks or intends to enroll.

The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by Western University of Health Sciences 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

Release of Educational Records

FERPA permits the disclosure of PII from students鈥� education records, without consent of the student, if the disclosure meets certain conditions found in 搂99.31 of the FERPA regulations. Except for disclosures to school officials, disclosures related to some judicial orders or lawfully ordered subpoenas, disclosures of directory information and disclosures to the student, 搂99.32 of FERPA regulations requires the institution to record the disclosure. Eligible students have a right to inspect and review the record of disclosures. A postsecondary institution may disclose PII from the education record without obtaining prior written consent of the student.

• To other school officials, including teachers, within the [School] whom the school has determined to have legitimate educational interests. This includes contractors, consultants, volunteers, or other parties to whom the school has outsourced institutional services or functions, provided that the conditions listed in 搂99.31(a)(1)(i)(B)(1) 鈥� (a)(1)(i)(B)(2) are met. (搂99.31(a)(1))
• To officials of another school where the student seeks or intends to enroll or where the student is already enrolled if the disclosure is for purposes related to the student鈥檚 enrollment or transfer, subject to the requirements of 搂99.34. (搂99.31(a)(2))
• To authorized representatives of the U. S. Comptroller General, the U. S. Attorney General, the U.S. Secretary of Education, or State and local educational authorities, such as a State postsecondary authority that is responsible for supervising the university鈥檚 State-supported education programs. Disclosures under this provision may be made, subject to the requirements of 搂99.35, in connection with an audit or evaluation of Federal- or State-supported education programs, or for the enforcement of or compliance with Federal legal requirements that relate to those programs. These entities may make further disclosures of PII to outside entities that are designated by them as their authorized representatives to conduct any audit, evaluation, or enforcement or compliance activity on their behalf. (搂搂99.31(a)(3) and 99.35)
• In connection with financial aid for which the student has applied or which the student has received, if the information is necessary to determine eligibility for the aid, determine the amount of the aid, determine the conditions of the aid, or enforce the terms and conditions of the aid. (搂99.31(a)(4))
• To organizations conducting studies for, or on behalf of, the school, in order to: (a) develop, validate, or administer predictive tests; (b) administer student aid programs; or (c) improve instruction. (搂99.31(a)(6))
• To accrediting organizations to carry out their accrediting functions. ((搂99.31(a)(7))
• To parents of an eligible student if the student is a dependent for IRS tax purposes. (搂99.31(a)(8))
• To comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena. (搂99.31(a)(9))
• To appropriate officials in connection with a health or safety emergency, subject to 搂99.36. (搂99.31(a)(10))
• Information the school has designated as 鈥渄irectory information鈥� under 搂99.37. (搂99.31(a)(11))
• To a victim of an alleged perpetrator of a crime of violence or a non-forcible sex offense, subject to the requirements of 搂99.39. The disclosure may only include the final results of the disciplinary proceeding with respect to that alleged crime or offense, regardless of the finding. (搂99.31(a)(13))
• To the general public, the final results of a disciplinary proceeding, subject to the requirements of 搂99.39, if the school determines the student is an alleged perpetrator of a crime of violence or non-forcible sex offense and the student has committed a violation of the school鈥檚 rules or policies with respect to the allegation made against him or her. (搂99.31(a)(14))
• To parents of a student regarding the student鈥檚 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 the student is under the age of 21. (搂99.31(a)(15))

Directory Information

FERPA, a Federal law, requires that Western University of Health Sciences, with certain exceptions, obtain your written consent prior to the disclosure of personally identifiable information from your education records. However, Western University of Health Sciences may disclose appropriately designated 鈥渄irectory information鈥� without written consent, unless you have advised the University to the contrary in accordance with University procedures. The primary purpose of directory information is to allow Western University of Health Sciences to include this type of information from your educational records in certain school publications. Examples include:

• Dean鈥檚 List or other recognition lists; and
• Commencement programs.

Under FERPA, the following directory information may be made public unless the student desires to withhold any or all of this information:

• Student鈥檚 name
• Local address
• Permanent address
• E-mail address
• Local telephone number
• Permanent telephone number
• Dates of attendance
• Program of study (college, major, and campus)
• Classification
• Previous educational agencies/institutions attended
• Degrees
• Honors and awards received
• Participation in officially recognized activities.

Currently enrolled students wishing to withhold any or all directory information items may do so by completing and returning the Directory Information Waiver Form through the . If a student restricts his/her directory information and leaves the University, the restriction continues until the student removes it by submitting a request in writing to the Office of the Registrar. Currently enrolled students wishing to grant the Office of the Registrar permission to release their directory information may do so by completing the Student Information Release Form online through the .