Buckley Amendment (FERPA)

Computerized Access

In the past, direct access to a student’s academic record was limited to staff members in the Registrar’s Office and academic support staff in the deans' offices.

Now, however, with the advancement of computer technology, it is possible and permissible for more and more college personnel (faculty and staff) to have access to confidential academic information through computer workstations right in their own offices or at other locations on campus.

Access to this information is a professional privilege that will allow all of our faculty and academic support staff to do their work with greater efficiency, speed and ease.

However, along with this privileged access comes a great deal of responsibility in the area of confidentiality.

Confidentiality

It is of the utmost importance that all individuals (faculty, administrators, academic support staff and work-study students) understand the need to ensure the confidentiality of our students' educational records.

Maintaining the confidentiality of specific records is not only important from an ethical standpoint, as it relates to our students, but it is absolutely essential from a legal standpoint.

The Buckley Amendment, also known as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), is a piece of legislation which applies to the protection of educational records. These regulations apply to all educational institutions receiving federal funds under programs administered by the U.S. Department of Education (DOE). (NOTE: This law applies to officially enrolled students; not to prospective students and applicants.)

Who May View?

Concerning the question "Who may have access to these protected student records?"

In order to answer this question, we use as our legal guide the regulations expressed in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

Only faculty, administrators, and professional staff, who have a LEGITIMATE NEED TO KNOW may have access to confidential student information. Limited access to confidential information by work-study students is permitted if required by their assigned duties.

Confidential Record Disposal

If you make a printout of any academic record, be sure to shred it. Do not dispose of it in any readable form.

Because of the confidential nature of the records with which we are dealing, it is extremely important that you NEVER leave your computer unattended when you have accessed student information.

Help guarantee confidentiality. Don’t leave your computer unattended when attached to HomerConnect.

Posting Grades

It is a violation of FERPA to post any test, midterm or final grades for public viewing where the name, or any part of the Ithaca College Identification number or Social Security number of the student is shown with the posted grade. If you post grades, please use your own or student designed identification system.

Educational vs. Directory Information

Specific types of Directory Information are made available to our student body and the general public when requested.

This information is generally not considered confidential and consists of such things as the student’s: name, address, phone listing, date of place of birth, major field of study, etc.

Educational information, such as an academic record is always considered confidential and must NEVER be released or discussed with a third party without the student’s written permission.

However, some students request us to treat all of their records in a confidential manner and, of course, we must honor that request.

A detailed booklet indicating which records are classified as Directory Information and which are classified as educational information is available at this link.

The best policy: DO NOT RELEASE ANY INFORMATION TO A THIRD PARTY WITHOUT FIRST CHECKING WITH THE OFFICE OF THE REGISTRAR OR YOUR DEAN’S OFFICE.

If you have any questions concerning any item on this website, pleases call the Office of the Registrar or the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs and Campus Life.