Access to your student's educational records and FERPA
Student records at East Central University are governed by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). The following is a description of the rights of students and their parents under these regulations.
The Act forbids the University from releasing personal identifiable student educational records or files, or personal information contained in those files, without the student's written consent, except in specified situations.
The Act extends to students and former students of the University the "right to inspect and review" their educational records. The University has established procedures for granting a student's request for access to his/her records within a reasonable time. Educational records do not include sole possession notes held privately by faculty and other academic staff.
Consent to Release
Parents, once your son or daughter comes to ECU, he or she is automatically protected by the FERPA legislation. This is a positive safeguard that is intended to protect your student. While it does protect your student, the FERPA also prohibits the University from releasing information about his or her record to you. East Central University complies fully with the FERPA.
Students may grant access to their education records to parents or other third parties. To do so, they will need to submit a Release of Information form. Note that this form in not submitted online and must be filled out in-office and kept on file in each individual office at the University. For authentication, the student is required to have a photocopy of a picture ID when the written consent is submitted.
Do Not Release
A form is available through the Office of Admissions & Records, Request for Privacy form, that will allow you to keep your directory information private and not available to businesses, agencies or people outside the University. Note that if you request privacy, your name will not be listed on any honor rolls, in the newspaper for any reason or on graduation lists. You must request that the privacy hold be removed in order to have your name listed.
Solomon Amendment
Solomon Amendment is a federal law that allows military recruiters to access some addresses and biographical and academic program information on students age 17 and older. The Department of Education has determined the Solomon Amendment supersedes most elements of FERPA.
FERPA Violations
If you believe that your FERPA rights have been violated, you may file a written complaint with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act Office, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, D.C. 20202.
