Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
Definitions
For the purposes of this policy, Naropa University has used the following definitions of terms:
- Student — Any person who attends or has attended Naropa University
- Education Records — Any record (in handwriting, print, tapes, film or other medium) maintained by Naropa University, or an agent of the University, which is directly related to a student, except:
- A personal record kept by a staff member if it is kept in the sole possession of the maker of the record and is not accessible or revealed to any other persons except a temporary substitute for the maker of the record.
- Records created and maintained by Naropa University Facilities Department for law enforcement purposes.
- An employment record of an individual whose employment is not contingent on the fact that he or she is a student, provided the record is used only in relation to the individual’s employment.
- Records made or maintained by a physician, psychiatrist, psychologist, or other recognized professional or paraprofessional if the records are used only for treatment of a student and made available only to those persons providing the treatment.
- Alumni records which contain information about a student after he or she is no longer in attendance at the University and which do not relate to the person as a student.
Annual Notification
Students will be notified of their FERPA rights annually by publication in the student handbook.
Procedure to Inspect Education Records
Students may inspect and review their education records upon request to the appropriate record custodian.
Students should submit to the record custodian or an appropriate University staff person a written request which identifies as precisely as possible the record or records he or she wishes to inspect.
The record custodian or an appropriate University staff person will make the needed arrangements for access as promptly as possible and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. Access must be given in 45 days or less from the receipt of the request.
When a record contains information about more than one student, the student may inspect and review only the records which relate to him.
Right of the University to Refuse Access
Naropa University reserves the right to refuse to permit a student to inspect the following records:
- The financial statement of the student’s parents.
- Letters and statements of recommendation for which the student has waived their right of access, or which were placed in file before January 1, 1975.
- Records connected with an application to attend Naropa University if that application was denied.
- Those records which are excluded from the FERPA definition of education records.
Refusal to Provide Copies
Naropa University reserves the right to deny transcripts or copies of records not required to be made available by FERPA in any of the following situations:
- The student lives within commuting distance of Naropa University.
- The student has an unpaid financial obligation to the University.
- There is an unresolved disciplinary action against the student.
Fees for Copies of Records
The fee for copies will be $1.00 per page with a maximum of $30.00
Types, Locations & Custodians of Education Records
| Types | Location | Custodian |
|---|---|---|
| Admissions Records | Registration Office | Registrar |
| Cumulative Academic Records (Current Students and one semester after graduation or withdrawal) | Registration Office | Registrar |
| Cumulative Academic Records (Former students; over one semester after graduation or withdrawal) | Registration Office | Registrar |
| Financial Records | Bursar’s Office | Bursar |
| Academic Progress Records | Office of Advising | Academic Advisor |
| Disciplinary Records | Student Affairs Office | Dean of Students |
| Occasional Records (Student education records not included in the types or listed above such as minutes of faculty committee meetings, copies of correspondence in offices not listed, etc.) | The appropriate official will collect such records, direct the student to their location, or otherwise make them available for inspection and review | The University staff person who maintains such occasional systems records |
Disclosure of Education Records
Record of Requests for Disclosure
Directory Information
Naropa University designates the following items as Directory Information: student name, address, student email, telephone number, photograph, date and place of birth, major field of study, dates of attendance, degrees and awards received, and most recent previous school attended. The University may disclose any of those items without prior written consent, unless notified in writing to the contrary.
Correction of Education Records
Students have the right to ask, within one year of completing the course in question, to have records corrected that they believe are inaccurate, misleading, or in violation of their privacy rights. Student records are destroyed in compliance with Naropa’s record retention plan after five years of non-attendance. Following are the procedures for the correction of records:
- A student must ask the Registrar of Naropa University to amend a record. In so doing, the student should identify the part of the record the student wants changed and specify why the student believes it is inaccurate, misleading, or in violation of their privacy or other rights.
- Naropa University may comply with the request or it may decide not to comply. If it decides not to comply, the University will notify the student of the decision and advise the student of their right to a hearing to challenge the information believed to be inaccurate, misleading, or in violation of the student’s rights.
- Upon request, Naropa University will arrange for a hearing, and notify the student, reasonably in advance, of the date, place, and time of the hearing.
- The hearing will be conducted by a hearing officer who is a disinterested party; however, the hearing officer may be an official of the University. The student shall be afforded a full and fair opportunity to present evidence relevant to the issues raised in the original request to amend the student’s education records. The student may be assisted by one or more individuals, including an attorney.
- Naropa University will prepare a written decision based solely on the evidence presented at the hearing. The decision will include a summary of the evidence presented and the reasons for the decision.
- If Naropa University decides that the challenged information is not inaccurate, misleading, or in violation of the student’s right of privacy, it will notify the student that the student has a right to place in the record a statement commenting on the challenged information and/or a statement setting forth reasons for disagreeing with the decision.
- The statement will be maintained as part of the student’s education records as long as the contested portion is maintained. If Naropa University discloses the contested portion of the record, it must also disclose the statement.
- If Naropa University decides that the information is inaccurate, misleading, or in violation of the student’s right of privacy, it will amend the record and notify the student, in writing, that the record has been amended.
FERPA–Related Forms
(found in the Registrar site on MyNaropa)
- Request for Non-release of Student Directory Information—Use this to request that Naropa University not release any of your information, including restrictions on verification of your degree.
- Student Waiver of FERPA Rights—Use this form to grant permission for another person to view your records.
