FERPA exceptions

Although not required, institutions may release information from student records without prior consent:

  • As directory information.
  • To school officials with legitimate educational interest (as defined by institution within FERPA guidelines).
  • To schools in which the student seeks or intends to enroll.
  • To federal, state and local authorities involving an audit or evaluation of compliance with education programs.
  • In connection with financial aid.
  • To organizations conducting studies of or on behalf of educational institutions (provided the institutions research board has cleared the research).
  • To accrediting agencies.
  • To comply with a judicial order or subpoena. 
  • In health or safety emergencies.
  • Results of disciplinary hearings.
  • Results of disciplinary hearing to an alleged victim of a crime of violence.
  • Final results of a disciplinary hearing concerning a student who is an alleged perpetrator of a crime of violence and who is found to have committed a violation of the institution’s rules or policies.
  • To parents of students under 21 if the institution determines that the student has committed a violation of its drug or alcohol rules or policies (regardless of the student’s dependent status).

Legitimate educational interest

The College discloses education records without a student's prior written consent 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 as its agent to provide a service instead of using University employees or officials (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 a disciplinary or grievance committee, 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 in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibilities for the College.