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 written requests that identify the record(s) they wish to inspect. The registrar 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 registrar, the registrar shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed.
2. The right to request amendment of the student’s education records that the student believes are inaccurate or misleading. Students may ask the College for a hearing to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading. They should write to the dean of studies (or other College official responsible for the record), clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. The hearing panel will consist of the dean of the College and/or the dean of studies and the relevant faculty members. The College will notify the student of the decision in writing.
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 that permits disclosure without consent is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is 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); a person or company with whom the College has contracted (such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent); a person serving on the Board of Trustees; or a student serving on an official committee, such as the Committee on Student Work, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record to fulfill his or her professional responsibility.
4. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by Sarah Lawrence College to comply with the requirements of FERPA. Complaints should be addressed to the Family Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington,D.C. 20302.

At its discretion, the College will release directory information, as allowed by FERPA, without prior consent of a student, unless he or she specifically asks that prior consent be obtained. Directory information will include only a student’s name, address, telephone number, class, enrollment status, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, and degrees received. This information is intended only for use within the College community, with the following exceptions: (1) a student’s name may be used in connection with announcements or reports of College activities or sports, and (2) the verification of a student’s enrollment may be released without prior consent in response to legitimate inquiries from outside the College community. Otherwise, it is longstanding College policy not to release any information about a student except in safety or health emergencies; in compliance with a lawfully issued subpoena or judicial order; as required by other applicable state or federal regulation; or as otherwise allowed under FERPA. Students may withhold directory information by notifying the registrar in writing by the end of the first week of classes for the fall term. Requests for non-disclosure will be honored for only one year and must be filed annually.

Questions concerning the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act may be referred to the Registrar’s Office.