Colgate has a legal responsibility to protect students’ privacy at the same time that we fulfill our educational commitment of supporting their transition to independence. Just as they are now responsible for managing their daily schedule, making their own dietary choices, and learning to live and study with people who have experiences, ideas, and backgrounds different from theirs, students are also responsible for deciding when and with whom they share personal information. Federal law protects that right.
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), passed by the U.S. Congress in 1974 and sometimes called the Buckley Amendment, prevents colleges from sharing education records without students’ express consent.
- Personally identifiable information includes, but is not limited to: Social Security Number, student identification number, residency status (citizen, permanent resident, nonresident alien, etc.), gender, race/ethnicity, religious preference, and passwords.
- Education records include, but are not limited to: grades/GPA, academic transcripts, class schedule, test scores, academic standing (e.g., on academic warning), number of currently enrolled course credits, completed or outstanding graduation requirements, financial aid status or account information, and other matters such as petitions, leave requests, disciplinary information, etc.
What does this mean? At the college level, parents (who under FERPA are considered a “third party”) have no inherent right to the above kinds of information. As the U.S. Department of Education states in its FERPA Guidance for Parents, “When a student reaches 18 years of age or attends a postsecondary institution, he or she becomes an ‘eligible student,’ and all rights under FERPA transfer from the parent to the student.”
Therefore, staff and faculty members cannot discuss a student’s academic standing or record with anyone, including parents, without signed consent from the student. Observing the law also supports the notion that students should make contact with campus departments themselves when they need assistance or encounter an issue.
Of course, you can certainly ask your student to share their progress and concerns with you. And we encourage you to talk with your student — to ask helpful guiding questions and provide experienced support — throughout their college years.