Release of Student Information

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.

A student should submit to the registrar, dean, head of the academic department, or other appropriate official, a written request that identifies the record(s) the student wishes to inspect. The University official will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. If the records are not maintained by the University official to whom the request was submitted, that official shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed.

(2) The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the student believes are inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy rights under FERPA.

A student who wishes to ask the University to amend a record should write the University official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record the student wants changed, and specify why it should be changed.

If the University decides not to amend the record as requested, the University will notify the student in writing of the decision and the student’s right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the student when notified of the right to a hearing.

(3) The right to provide written consent before the University discloses personally identifiable information other than "directory information" from the student's education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.

Directory information, which may be disclosed without consent, includes: Student’s name, local and permanent addresses, e-mail address, telephone number, college, major, classification, current enrollment status, participation in recognized student activities and sports, dates of attendance, degrees and awards received and dates of receipt, posting of individual student’s grades and interim class evaluations by code number or I.D. number and anticipated date of graduation based on completed hours.

A student may opt out of disclosing the student's directory information by filling out the Directory Information Hold Form (link opens in new window). A student cannot place a hold on a portion of the information. The hold will: block the student's name, address and e-mail address from the OU Web site directory; prevent the release of attendance, withdrawal or graduation information, even after the student leaves the university (unless the student submits a written authorization to release it); and prevent the university from releasing contact information. A student can place a directory hold at any time. However, in order for information to be withheld from the printed directory, the directory hold must be on file by the end of the second week of the fall semester.

The University discloses education records without a student’s prior written consent under the FERPA exception for disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the University in an administrative, supervisory, academic or research, or support staff position (including law en­forcement personnel and health staff); a person or company with whom the University 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 Regents; 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 University. Upon request, the University also discloses education records without consent to offi­cials of another school in which a student seeks or intends to enroll.

(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

Parents of a dependent student may have access to grades and other confidential academic information under guidelines provided in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974. Access to this information is limited to parents who claim the student as an exemption on their federal income tax return. 

Parental Access to Student Education Records form (link opens in new window).

Requests for specific grade or other academic information can be addressed to the Office of Academic Records, University of Oklahoma, 1000 Asp Avenue, Room 330, Norman, Oklahoma 73019–0430. Each request must include a copy of the top portion of the parent’s most recent tax return, showing the student’s name and social security number listed as a dependent. Academic information can also be obtained by providing the Office of Academic Records with written consent of the student.

Students may authorize the release of their education record information to a third party on either a one-time or an on-going basis. Authorizations for release of information on an on-going basis will remain valid for one year following the student’s last enrollment at the University of Oklahoma or until canceled in writing by the student at any time.

Student permission to release education record information form (link opens in new window).

Questions concerning these policies or procedures should be directed to the Office of Academic Records, 325-4147, Buchanan Hall 330, 1000 Asp Avenue, Norman OK 73019- 4076.

September 2009