What is the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)?
The transition to college brings many changes, and one area that might be new to you is based on the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA). FERPA, as it is called, is a mandated federal act established to protect your daughter’s privacy and academic records. Previously, as a parent or guardian, you have had rights allowing you to access to your daughter’s educational records. You will find that in college these records are protected under FERPA. Should you request access to information contained in these records, your daughter would need to consent to the release of that information. This can sometimes come as a surprise to the parents of college students. We encourage you to communicate directly with your daughter about her progress in college.
