Academic Information (FERPA) Waiver
All faculty and staff are required to complete FERPA training prior to attending Banner Basics Student. Online training is available for faculty and staff at: www.ferpatraining.reg.ttu.edu
FERPA, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, is a federal law that pertains to the release of and access to educational records. The law, also known as the Buckley Amendment, applies to all schools that receive funds under an applicable program of the US Department of Education. Go to www.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco to learn more.
FERPA applies to personally identifiable information in educational records. This includes items such as the student's name, names of family members, addresses, personal identifiers such as social security numbers, and personal characteristics or other information that make the student's identity easily traceable.
FERPA identifies certain information, called directory information, that may be disclosed without the student's permission.
The following student information is considered Texas Tech University Directory Information:
- Student Name
- Permanent and Local Addresses
- Place of Birth
- Major Field of Study
- Dates of Attendance
- Degrees, Awards, and Honors Received
- Specific Enrollment Status
- Full-time, Part-time, Half-time
- Undergraduate, Graduate, Law
- Participation in Officially Recognized Sports and Activities
- Height/weight of members of Athletic Teams
- Previous Institution(s) Attended
Educational records are all records that contain information directly related to a
student and are maintained by an educational agency or institution, or by a party
acting on its behalf. A record means any information recorded in any way, including
handwriting, print, tape, film, microfilm, microfiche, and digital images.
Educational records do not include the following:
- sole possession records -- records kept in the sole possession of the maker which are used only as a personal memory aid and are not accessible or reviewed by any other person except a temporary substitute for the maker of the record);
- medical or psychological treatment records that include those maintained by physicians, psychiatrists, and psychologists;
- employment records, provided that employment is not contingent upon being a student;
- law enforcement records; and
- records collected about an individual after that person is no longer a student at TTU.
Under FERPA, a student has a right to
- inspect and review his or her educational records;
- request to amend his or her educational records;
- have some control over the disclosure of information from his or her educational records.
The university notifies students annually of their FERPA rights in the Student Handbook. If students believe that such rights have been violated, they may register a complaint with the Office of the Registrar, Room 103 West Hall or contact the Family Policy Compliance Office at the Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave SW, Washington DC 2002-4605.
Additional information is available at www.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco.
A currently-enrolled student may restrict access to their directory information, or may remove their information from public directories, through the MyTech (Raiderlink) system during the first twelve class days of any semester, or the first four class days of any summer term. (Restricted information remains so until revoked by the student.)
Upon written request, the university shall provide a student access to his or her educational records except for financial records of the student's parents or guardian; and confidential letters of recommendation where the student has signed a waiver of right of access. If the records contain information on more than one student, the requesting student may inspect, review, or be informed on only the specific information about his or her own records. Educational records covered by FERPA normally will be made available within forty-five days of the request. The contents of a student's educational records may be challenged by the student on the grounds that they are inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the privacy rights of the student by submitting a written statement to the custodian of records (the Registrar).
According to FERPA, nondirectory information may not be released without prior written consent from the student. Exceptions are listed in the Student Handbook; they include access by appropriate university administrators, faculty members, or staff members who require access to educational records in order to perform their legitimate educational duties; officials of other schools in which the student seeks or intends to enroll; and in connection with a student's application for, or receipt of, financial aid.
Legitimate educational interest is access to educational records by appropriate University administrators, faculty members, staff members, appropriate administrators or staff members of the university alumni association, or contractors acting on behalf of the University, who require such access in order to perform their legitimate educational and business duties, when such records are needed in furtherance of the educational or business purposes of the student or University.
Direct general questions to the Office of the Registrar, Ombudsman, or Dean of Students office as appropriate. Send comments or suggestions to the registrar's office.
FERPA makes provision for inspection, review and amendment of educational records by the student and requires, in most instances, prior consent from the student for disclosure of such records to third parties. The consent must be in writing, signed, and dated by the student and must specify records to be released, the reason for the release, and the names of the parties to whom such records will be released. The act applies to all persons formerly and currently enrolled at an educational institution. No exclusion is made for non‐U.S. citizen students. However, the act does not apply to a person who has applied for admission, but who never actually enrolled in or attended the institution, and deceased persons.
If you would like someone other than yourself to have access to your education information, please complete the FERPA form. The FERPA form is available for student completion at : http://www.depts.ttu.edu/registrar/docs/FERPAWaiverForm.pdf
Note: Only complete the FERPA form if you are giving someone permission to access your academic information.
Upon completion of the form, you will need to complete one of the following options:
- Bring the completed FERPA form to the Office of the Registrar, West Hall, room 103.
- Send by Mail to: Office of the Registrar, Texas Tech University, Box 45015, Lubbock, TX 79409
- FAX to: (806)742‐0355
Important! If you would like to take access away from the person listed on the FERPA form, you will need to visit West Hall, room 103, to rescind education information access.
The Solomon Amendment is a federal law that requires universities to release the following information to military recruiters without student consent: Student name, address, telephone number, age or year of birth, place of birth, level of education (freshman, sophomore, graduate, etc.), academic major(s), and most recent educational institution attended. You may opt out of releasing your information to military recruiters through the MyTech (Raiderlink) system.