Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) | University of Portland

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect to their education records. These rights include:

  1. The right to inspect and review the student's education records within 45 days of the day the University receives a request for access.
  2. The right to request the amendment of the student's education records that the student believes is inaccurate.
  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.
  4. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the University 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 20202-5901

(Please see the University Bulletin under Records or the Student Handbook under FERPA for additional information.)

Directory Information

The University has designated certain elements of the education record as directory information. If a student does not wish any of this information to be released, he or she must notify the registrar in writing by the end of the first week of classes. The following constitutes directory information:

  • name
  • address
  • telephone number
  • e-mail address
  • name(s) and address(es) of parent(s)
  • major field of study
  • enrollment status (full-time, part-time)
  • participation in recognized activities and sports
  • weight and height of members of athletic teams
  • photographs
  • dates of attendance
  • degrees, honors and awards received
  • class-year in school
  • previous educational institutions attended


Department of Education Guide to FERPA