Student Privacy / FERPA
Confidentiality Of Student Records
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) covers the release and inspection of each student's educational records. The University of the Pacific adheres to a policy of compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (Buckley Amendment). The links on this page provide information related to FERPA as it pertains to faculty and staff members at University of the Pacific.
Select from the links at right for more information about the university's support of student privacy rights.
Students have three primary rights under FERPA. They have the right to:
- Inspect and review their education records;
- Have some control over the disclosure of information from their education record,
- Seek to amend their education records, under certain circumstances.
FERPA Rights Start With the First Class
A student's FERPA rights begin when the student registers and attends his/her first class. Students who originally sought admission to one program of study at the university and are denied, but subsequently are admitted and enrolled in a different program of study, have FERPA rights only in their admitted/enrolled program of study.
Education Records
Under FERPA, education records are private. They include records that are directly related to a student and are maintained by an education agency or institution or by a party acting for the agency or institution. Education records can exist in any medium, including: typed, computer generated, videotape, audiotape, film, microfilm, microfiche and email, among others.
Withholding the Release of Public Information
Directory information is public information. Directory information includes information that can be disclosed without written student authorization. The university is not obligated to release public directory information to anyone. FERPA only says that an institution MAY release such information, but there is no obligation to do so. When in doubt, do not release information.
According to FERPA, a student can request, while still enrolled, that the institution not release any directory information about him/her. Institutions must comply with this request. At Pacific, students who wish to restrict the release of directory information about themselves must complete a "Non Release of Directory Information" form, available from the Office of the Registrar at each respective campus. You must submit the completed form in person to the Office of the Registrar. You must show a photo I.D. when submitting the form.
Restricting public access to your directory information could have negative consequences. Your names will not appear in the commencement bulletin and other university publications. Also, employers, credit card companies, loan agencies, scholarship committees and all other external organizations will be told: "I'm sorry, but we have no information regarding that person."
Parental Access to Education Records
At the postsecondary level, parents have no inherent rights to access or inspect their son or daughter's education records. This right is limited solely to the student. At Pacific, records may be released to parents only if they have been given a written release by the student or in compliance with a subpoena.
Crisis Situations or Emergencies
A student's local telephone number is considered to be public directory information, so you can release the phone number—unless the student has submitted a written request blocking release of otherwise public information. If the university determines that the information is "necessary to protect the health or safety of the student or other individuals." you may also release other public directory information. You should consider the following types of issues when making a decision to release non-directory information to a third-party:
- The severity of the threat to the health or safety of those involved;
- The need for the information;
- The time required to deal with the emergency;
- The ability of the parties to whom the information is to be given to deal with the emergency.
If the student lives on campus, you can also refer the caller or person to Student Life on the Stockton Campus, any public safety officer or Dean of Students at the McGeorge School of Law. or place a note yourself in their mail box or on their resident hall door.
General questions may be directed to the Office of the Registrar at each respective campus
Contact Information
- Stockton Campus - Registrar Office (Undergraduate, Graduate, Pharmacy)
- McGeorge School of Law - Registrar Office
- Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry - Academic Affairs
