Canisius College

FERPA grants students the right to inspect and review their education records, the right to request to amend their education records and the right to limit disclosure of some personally identifiable information known as directory information. 

For purposes of FERPA, “education records” are all records which contain information directly related to a student and maintained by Canisius College.  Records that are not “education records” include but are not limited to sole possession, law enforcement, employment, medical and counseling, and post-attendance records. A “student” is defined as one who has attended or is attending Canisius College and regarding whom Canisius College maintains education records.

Normally, education records will not be released — nor access given — to third parties without written consent of the student unless the party meets one  of the following:  

• Parents of a dependent student.
• School officials who have a legitimate educational interest in the records.
• Appropriate parties in a health or safety emergency.
• Parents/legal guardian when their children (under age 21) are found to have violated the Canisius College alcohol or drug policy 
• Schools in which a student seeks or intends to enroll.
• An alleged victim of a crime of violence of the results of a disciplinary hearing regarding the alleged perpetrator of that crime with respect to that crime.  
• Comply with a judicial order or a lawfully issued subpoena.
• Anyone who is providing financial aid to the student (“financial aid” does not include any payments made by parents).
• The Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (BCIS) for purposes of the Student and Exchange Visitor Program.
• Federal, State, and local officials involving an audit or evaluation of compliance with educational programs.
• Organizations conducting certain studies for or on behalf of the College.
• Military recruiters who request “Student Recruiting Information” for recruiting purpose only.
• The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for purposes of complying with the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997.
• Authorized representatives of the Department of Veterans Affairs for students receiving educational assistance from the agency. 
• Accrediting organizations to carry out their functions.

It should be noted that FERPA permits the  disclosure of education records to the parents of a dependent student.  The College, however, considers its students to be adult decision-makers; as such, students have the right and responsibility to share information about their grades and degree pursuit with their parents and/or guardians. This means that the staff of the College normally will not give out information about grades or degree pursuit and will instead suggest that parents or guardians have conversations directly with students about these matters.  The college’s policy provides a greater degree of privacy for dependent students than FERPA would require.  If the student wishes to have this information released to the parents, the student must sign an Authorization to Disclose Grades form with the Registrar’s Office, Bagen 106. 

There are exceptions to the foregoing Canisius policy that may result in parent/guardian notification by the college.  They are: 

• When a student who is the dependent of a parent or guardian is failing a course at midterm and fails to make or keep a progress appointment with the designated academic advisor
• When a student has conditions placed on  the number and type of courses for which s/he can register because of probationary grade point average
• When a student has conditions placed on the number and type of courses for which s/he can register because the student has been academically dismissed but reinstated through appeal.

A notification of releases made to third  parties shall be kept in the student’s record (unless forbidden by a judicial order or subpoena). The third party shall be informed that no release of personally identifiable data is authorized without the written consent of the student.

The college has established the following procedures enabling students to have access to their records:

1. The student may inspect and review his or her record by filling out a request form at the office where the record of interest is maintained. Students may not inspect and review the following:

• Financial information submitted by parents.
• Confidential letters and recommendations placed in their files prior to January 1, 1975.
• Confidential letters and statements of recommendation placed in records after January 1, 1975, to which the student has waived his or her right to inspect and review.
• Education records containing information about more than one student; however, in such cases, students will be given access to the part of the record which pertains only to him/herself.

2. Access is to be granted promptly and no later than 30 days from the date of the request.

3. The student may obtain copies of documents to which he or she is entitled. The college may charge for these copies.

4. The student may request and receive interpretation of his or her record from the person (or  designee) responsible for maintaining the record

Students have the right to challenge the content of their education records if they consider the  information contained therein to be inaccurate, misleading or inappropriate.  The process includes an opportunity for amendment of the records or insertion of written explanations by the student into such records.  The procedures for challenging records can be found in the Office of Student Affairs, Old Main 102.

Unlike education records, directory information shall be released freely unless the student files the appropriate form requesting that certain information may not be released. This form is available at the Registrar’s Office, Bagen 106.  Directory information includes but is not limited to name, address, email address, phone number, photograph, date and place of birth, major field of study, dates of attendance, grade level, enrollment status, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of members of athletic teams, degrees, honors and awards, received, and most recent education agency or institution attended.

This policy does not preclude the destruction of any record the college does not consider germane. Persons in charge of records shall ensure that only pertinent items are retained in student files. The forms for “Request for Confidential Status of Directory Information” and “Authorization to Disclose Grades” shall be removed from a student’s educational records upon graduation unless the student makes a specific request that these forms remain.