Purpose

Lindenwood University is committed to the privacy of the educational information and records of its students. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (“FERPA”), is a federal law that protects the privacy of certain student education records, requires that schools maintain a written institutional policy on this subject, adopt procedures covering the rights of students under FERPA, and make this information available to students. Lindenwood maintains the confidentiality of student education records and affords students rights as set forth herein in accordance with FERPA.

Scope

This policy applies to student education records covered by FERPA and detailed below.

Policy

As a general matter, Lindenwood must have written permission from the parent or eligible student, who is 18 years of age or older, in order to release information from a student's education record. For purposes of this policy, “education records” are records, files documents, and other materials that contain information directly related to a student and are maintained by Lindenwood. However, FERPA allows Lindenwood to disclose those records, without consent, to the following parties or under the following conditions:

• School officials with legitimate educational interest;
• Other schools to which a student is transferring;
• Specified officials for audit or evaluation purposes;
• Appropriate parties in connection with financial aid to a student;
• Organizations conducting certain studies for or on behalf of Lindenwood;
• Accrediting organizations;
• To comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena or court order;
• Appropriate officials in cases of health and safety emergencies; and
• State and local authorities, within a juvenile justice system, pursuant to specific State law.

FERPA also allows Lindenwood to disclose, without consent, "directory" information. Below is a list of the types of information Lindenwood classifies as “directory” for purposes of FERPA:

• student’s name
• student’s street address
• student’s email address
• student’s telephone number
• student’s date of birth
• student’s dates of attendance
• student’s degrees and awards received
• student’s major and minor field(s) of studies
• student’s class
• student’s participation in officially recognized activities and sports
• student’s most recent previous educational agency or institution attended by the student, and
• student’s weight and height, if student is a member of an intercollegiate athletic team

FERPA allows the University to release a student’s directory information to anyone unless the student informs the Office of the Registrar in writing that they do not wish their directory information to be released. A student may also reverse their restriction on the release of their directory information by informing the Office of the Registrar of the same in writing.

Notification of Rights

FERPA affords parents and eligible students certain rights with respect to the student's education records. These rights are:

1. The right to inspect and review the student's education records within 45 days after the day the Lindenwood receives a request for access.

   Parents or eligible students who wish to inspect their child’s or their education records should submit to the Office of the Registrar a written request that identifies the records they wish to inspect. The Lindenwood will make arrangements for access and notify the parent or eligible student of the time and place where the records may be inspected.

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

   Parents or eligible students who wish to ask Lindenwood to amend their child’s or their education record should write the Office of the Registrar, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it should be changed. If Lindenwood decides not to amend the record as requested by the parent or eligible student, Lindenwood will notify the parent or eligible student of the decision and of their right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the parent or eligible student when notified of the right to a hearing.

3. The right to provide written consent before the school discloses personally identifiable information (“PII”) from the student's education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.

   One exception, which permits disclosure without consent, is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. For these purposes, a school official is a person employed by Lindenwood in an administrative, supervisory, academic, staff, contractor, or other outside service provider position and providing institutional services, or an individual assisting another school official in performing their job duties or institutional services. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if they need to review an education record in order to fulfill their professional responsibilities for Lindenwood.

4. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by Lindenwood to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA are:

   Student Privacy Policy Office
   U.S. Department of Education
   400 Maryland Avenue, SW
   Washington, DC  20202

Please direct any questions about FERPA or this policy to the Office of the Registrar.

The Registrar’s Office is the sole University office responsible for administering, receiving, processing, and providing any and all information and/or records in response to requests for such information under FERPA. All inquiries for the same should be directed to the Office of the Register and no other University department should engage in the FERPA process unless directed to by the Office of the Registrar. Additionally, only the Office of the Registrar shall provide any information or records and administer and facilitate requests for information pursuant to FERPA.