For complete details, students should refer to Policy Manual IV-6.

FERPA, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, is a federal law that protects student education records. Under this law, students have several important rights.

Students have the right to view their educational records. They may review their educational records within 45 days after submitting a request. Paper and electronic forms are available in offices that maintain student records, and a student’s HawkID and password serve as an electronic signature for online consent forms. While students are entitled to review their records, they may not always receive copies. Copies are provided when necessary to assist with reviewing records or when information is shared with another institution.

Students also have the right to request changes to their educational records. If a record contains incorrect or misleading information, students may request that it be corrected. More details on how to amend a record are available through the Office of the Registrar.

Students control who sees the information from their educational records. Personal information will not  be shared without the student’s consent, except in certain situations allowed by law. For example,  consent is not required to share information during a health or safety emergency. If a residence hall student is reported missing and presumed in danger, University Police will act immediately, and for students under 21, parents or guardians will be contacted. FERPA also allows the release of certain disciplinary information, such as the outcome of cases involving crimes of violence or alcohol and drug violations by students under 21. Consent is not required for the release of a student’s unrestricted directory information.  Students can restrict the release of their directory information by logging into MyUI, and more details are available on the Office of the Registrar’s website. Some courses, whether in person or online, may require sharing a student’s name, email, address, and phone number with classmates to support interaction. This is permitted under FERPA, even if directory information has been restricted. Students with concerns should speak with their instructor before enrolling.

Finally, students have the right to file a complaint if they believe the University is not following FERPA. Complaints can be submitted to the Student Privacy Policy Office at 400 Maryland Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20202-4605. Students may also file an internal complaint with the Office of the Registrar at ui-ferpa@uiowa.edu.