Student Records

Confidentiality of Student Records. The university's policy and procedures for confidentiality of student records may be found in Academic Regulation 90.10.00 at www.american.edu/american/registrar/AcademicReg.

The following explains the university's policy for complying with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 ("FERPA" or "Act"). Students at American University have the following rights regarding their education records:

to have access to their education records,
to consent to release a record to a third party,
to request nondisclosure of directory information,
to seek amendment of information in an education record which the student demonstrates is inaccurate,
to be notified of their privacy rights, and
to file complaints with the Family Policy Compliance Office of the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by American University to comply with the Act.

For purposes of this policy, the term "student" means any individual who is attending or has attended American University and for whom the university maintains education records. The term "education records" or "student education records" means, with certain exceptions, any records

that are directly related to a student and
maintained by the university or its agents.

Student education records are confidential and may only be released with consent of the student or as otherwise permitted by law.

The university does not maintain education records in one central office. Education records are maintained in the various departments, schools, or colleges. A student should contact the Office of the University Registrar or, for law students, the Washington College of Law (WCL) Registrar for guidance in determining which unit(s) to contact about an education record.

Examples of academic and nonacademic student education records include without limitation:

Academic Records: Permanent record of academic performance (e.g., transcript, including supporting documents) maintained by the Office of the University Registrar, the WCL Registrar, academic advisor, dean's office, and provost's office; files of academic progress maintained by the individual school or college academic office and the provost's office; admission files of students; Career Center files.
Nonacademic Records: Files related to Financial Aid, Housing and Dining Programs, International Student and Scholar Services, Student Accounts, and the library; student discipline files; employment files of students who are employed because of their student status (e.g., work-study, graduate assistantship or fellowship).

Only information directly relevant to the educational processes of the university or which is voluntarily offered by the student and accepted from the student shall be included in student education records. Specifically excluded from such student education records are:

Medical and mental health information which is created, maintained, or used by a physician, psychiatrist, psychologist, or other recognized professional in connection with treatment of the student and disclosed only to individuals providing the treatment. Such records are strictly confidential and not accessible except as provided by applicable laws.
Sole possession records or private notes maintained by individual faculty and instructional, supervisory, or administrative personnel for their own use and which are not accessible or released to anyone except a substitute.
Records created and maintained by Public Safety solely for law enforcement purposes.
Employment records of students which are made and maintained in the normal course of business, relate exclusively to their employment, and are not available for use for any other purpose.
Alumni records which contain only information about former students after they are no longer students at the university.

Student Access to Student Education Records. Each student may inspect his or her education record, subject to reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions. A student must submit a written request to review an education record. The request will be granted as soon as possible, but no later than forty-five (45) days from the date of the receipt of the request. At the time of inspection, the student must present identification and must inspect the records in the presence of a designated university official. In lieu of inspection and at the request of the student, the university may provide a copy of the requested education record. The student may be charged for the actual costs of copying the records. The university reserves the right to deny requests for copies of records if there is an administrative restriction on the individual's student account (e.g., financial obligation, disciplinary stop).

Student may not access the following education records:

Financial information submitted by parents.
Confidential letters of recommendation for which a student has waived the right of access, provided that the recommendations are used only for their intended purpose (i.e., admission, employment, or consideration for any honor). However, the student may know the names of all people making recommendations.
Confidential letters of recommendation placed in a record before January 1, 1975, if the letters were used only for the intended purpose.

Disclosures of Student Education Records. The university may verify or release directory information unless the student has filed a request for nondisclosure of directory information with the Office of the University Registrar or, for law students, the WCL Registrar. Prior to verifying or releasing directory information, the university official processing the request must contact the Office of the University Registrar to ensure that the student has not requested nondisclosure of directory information. Directory information includes a student's name, telephone numbers, addresses, e-mail addresses, date and place of birth, dates of attendance at the university, major field of study and class, date of graduation, degrees and honors received at the university, the most recent previous educational agency or institution attended, participation in officially recognized university activities, height and weight of members of athletic teams, photographs, and similar information.

The university may verify directory information for persons requesting such information. In the event that the individual seeking verification provides incorrect or incomplete information, the university will not complete, correct, volunteer, or provide additional information to the inquirer. The university, in connection with specific events such as commencements, dean's list announcements, scholarship presentations, athletic contests, or other university-related news stories, may release directory information to the news media or the public. The university may release directory information for law enforcement purposes and will release directory information as required by law.

Students who object to the verification and release of directory information must notify in writing the Office of the University Registrar or, for law students, the WCL Registrar. Forms for this purpose are available from the Office of the University Registrar or the WCL Registrar and should be filed within thirty (30) days following enrollment at the university. The request for nondisclosure may be rescinded by written notification to the Office of the University Registrar or the WCL Registrar.

University officials are determined to have legitimate educational interest if the information requested is necessary for that official to perform a task that is related to their normally assigned job functions or related to their performance of a contract with the university. A "university official" includes faculty, staff, a member of the board of trustees, third parties acting on behalf of the university, and individuals, including students, serving on university committees. The determination as to whether a legitimate educational interest exists will be made by the custodian of the records on a case-by-case basis.

Third-Party Access to Education Records. The university may disclose student education records with the prior written consent of the student. A student may authorize access to third parties to review the student's education record by completing a written and dated authorization form which specifies the information to be released, the reasons for the release, and to whom the information is to be released.

The university may disclose information in the following circumstances without the prior written consent of the student:

To comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena. Unless otherwise directed by the order or subpoena, the university will make a reasonable effort to notify the student in writing of the order or subpoena in advance of compliance.
To the parents of a dependent student, as defined in the Internal Revenue Code. The parent must sign, and provide to the university, a written statement confirming that the student is a dependent; the statement must be accompanied by a copy of the parent's most current tax return which reports the student as a dependent.
To persons or organizations providing the student financial aid or who determine financial decisions concerning eligibility, amount, conditions, and enforcement or terms of the financial aid.
To organizations conducting studies for educational agencies to (1) develop, validate, or administer predictive tests; (2) administer student aid programs; or (3) improve instruction. Disclosure under this paragraph shall only be made if the study is conducted in a manner that does not permit personal identification of students by individuals other than representatives of the organization and that personally identifiable data will be destroyed when no longer needed for the purpose for which it was collected.
To authorized representatives of the comptroller general of the United States, secretary of education, or state and local educational authorities to audit or evaluate a federal or state supported education programs, or for the enforcement of or compliance with legal requirements of those programs. Disclosure under this paragraph shall only be made if information is protected in a manner that does not permit personal identification of students by individuals other than the specified officials and that personally identifiable data will be destroyed when no longer needed for the purpose for which it is collected.
To accrediting organizations for purposes related to accreditation of the university.
To appropriate parties in a health or safety emergency.
To victims of crimes of violence or nonforcible sex offenses concerning the results of disciplinary proceedings about those incidents.
To appropriate parties as permitted by the university's Parental Notification of Disciplinary Violations Involving the Use or Possession of Alcohol or a Controlled Substance.
To appropriate parties in other circumstances as required by law.

Education records will only be disclosed to third parties if they are advised not to redisclose the information to others without the prior written consent of the student or as permitted by law.

Each university office must maintain a list of all individuals or organizations who have obtained access to a student's record. The list must indicate the legitimate interest that each person or organization has in obtaining the information. This "record of access" is part of the student's education record. A record of access is not necessary for disclosures

to the student,
pursuant to a written authorization from a student,
to university officials,
of directory information, and
in response to a subpoena or court order specifying that the existence and/or contents of such documents may not be revealed.

Student's Right to Challenge Information in the Student Education Record.

If a student demonstrates that the student's education record is inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student's privacy rights, the student may request in writing that the record be changed. The request should be made directly to the custodian of the record. Any disagreement should be resolved informally, if possible, and within a reasonable time period. If the request is denied, the student may file a written appeal within 30 days to the Office of the University Registrar or, for law students, the WCL Registrar. The registrar will appoint a hearing committee to review the complaint. The committee will provide the student a full and fair opportunity to present evidence. The student may be assisted or represented by one or more individuals of the student's choice, including an attorney. After the committee completes the proceeding and makes findings, it will render a written decision and forward it to the relevant parties for implementation.

Students dissatisfied with the results of a hearing may place an explanatory statement in the relevant education record commenting upon the information in dispute, and/or setting forth any reason for disagreement with the institutional decision not to correct or amend the record. Such a statement will become part of the student education record.

Inactivity of Student Education Records. After five years since the student has graduated or was last registered at the university, the university generally destroys student education records. Exceptions include but are not limited to the following: permanent records of academic performance, including supporting documents; such financial records as are necessary so long as there exists a financial obligation to the university; and disciplinary records that involve a permanent notation to the student's record.