What is “Directory Information”?
Directory Information is information that can legally be requested by phone. Any other information requires a student’s signature or a request in person. Under Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), the following directory information can be released without a student’s signature and includes: the student’s name, enrollment status (e.g., Part or Full-time), local telephone number, e-mail address, field of study, university post office box number, dates of attendance, academic classification and degrees, honors, and awards received.
It is information contained in an education record of a student that would not generally be considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if disclosed. Directory Information may be disclosed without the permission of the student. Lehighs policy defines directory information to include a student’s name; home and University address; mailbox number; home and University phone numbers; date and place of birth; name of parent or guardian; name of spouse; major field of college student; class; participation in sports and in officially recognized activities listed by the student; weight and height of members of athletic teams; dates of attendance; degrees and awards received; and the most recently attended educational institution.
With certain exceptions, directory information is the only student information that may be released without the written, signed, and dated consent of the student. At Purdue University, directory information includes: name; local address; local telephone number; school; curriculum; classification and credit hour load; dates of attendance; degrees, awards, and honors received; participation in activities and sports; and weight, height, and position of members of athletic teams. Although FERPA regulations begin once a student is attending an institution of higher education, the Graduate School applies these regulations as soon as a student submits an application.
Institutions such as Long Island University, C.W. Post Campus, may disclose information on a student without violating FERPA through what is known as “directory information”. The questions below identify what information can and cannot be given out under this part of the FERPA law. Currently registered undergraduate and graduate students may withhold directory information by filing a special form available in the Registrar’s Office or the Office of Student Affairs. All students should carefully consider the consequences of this decision as it means that the Office of the Registrar will not provide any information to anyone on a particular student.
