What you need to know about FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) and the release of information concerning students.
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Release of Information
It is the policy of Manhattan School of Music to screen all requests for information concerning students. Students who wish to restrict the release of such information are required to notify the Office of the Registrar in writing.
In accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (Buckley Amendment), students enrolled at Manhattan School of Music have the right to see educational records maintained by the School which are related to them.
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MSM Policy Regarding Notification of Rights Under FERPA
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) afford eligible students certain rights with respect to their education records. (An “eligible student” under FERPA is a student who is 18 years of age or older or who attends a postsecondary institution.) These rights include:
The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days after the day the School receives a request for access. A student should submit to the registrar, dean, head of the academic department, or other appropriate official, a written request that identifies the record(s) the student wishes to inspect. The school official will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. If the records are not maintained by the school official to whom the request was submitted, that official shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed.
The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the student believes is inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy rights under FERPA.
A student who wishes to ask the school to amend a record should write the school official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record the student wants changed, and specify why it should be changed.
If the school decides not to amend the record as requested, the school will notify the student in writing of the decision and the student’s right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the student when notified of the right to a hearing.
The right to provide written consent before the university discloses personally identifiable information (PII) from the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.
The school discloses education records without a student’s prior written consent under the FERPA exception for disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the School in an administrative, supervisory, academic, research, or support staff position (including law enforcement unit personnel and health staff); a person serving on the board of trustees; or a student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee. A school official also may include a volunteer or contractor outside of the School who performs an institutional service of function for which the school would otherwise use its own employees and who is under the direct control of the school with respect to the use and maintenance of PII from education records, such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent or a student volunteering to assist another school official in performing his or her tasks. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibilities for the School.
The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the [School] to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA is:
Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202Schools may disclose, without consent, directory information including a student’s name, telephone numbers (permanent, primary, and cellular), addresses (including electronic mail), date and place of birth, major, honors, awards, photograph, classification, dates of enrollment, enrollment status, degrees conferred, dates of conferral, graduation, distinctions, and the institution attended immediately prior to admission. Students who wish to restrict the release of such information are required to notify the Office of the Registrar in writing within 10 days of the first day of the semester of enrollment. A request to withhold information may be submitted after the stated deadline, but information may be released between the deadline and receipt of the request.
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FERPA Directory Information Policy
The following information about students is considered Directory Information at Manhattan School of Music:
- Student’s name
- Telephone numbers (permanent, primary and cellular)
- Addresses (including electronic mail)
- Date and place of birth
- Major
- Honors
- Awards
- Photograph
- Classification
- Dates of enrollment
- Degrees conferred
- Dates of conferral
- Graduation
- Distinctions (including Dean’s List)
- the institution attended immediately prior to admission
Directory Information may be made available to the general public unless you request that the School withhold disclosure of such Directory Information. In order to exercise your right to withhold Directory Information, you must notify the Office of the Registrar, in writing, no later than 10 days after the first day of the semester of enrollment. A request to withhold information may be submitted after the stated deadline, but information may be released between the deadline and receipt of the request. You may request a copy of Student Authorization to Withhold Directory Information Form from the Office of the Registrar. Once you have requested the School to withhold Directory Information, that request will be valid until you rescind the request in writing on the original Authorization to Withhold Directory Information Form.
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FERPA Release of Education Record Information to Parent(s)/Guardian(s)
In accordance with FERPA and Manhattan School of Music policy, the School may disclose non-directory educational information from the academic records of a student to parent(s)/legal guardian(s) when the School:Has written consent of the student on file. You may request a copy of Student Authorization to Release Education Records to Parent(s)/Guardian(s) Form from the Office of the Registrar. OR
Has determined that the student is legally a dependent of the parent/guardian according to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, Section 152. The School will use information in copies of current tax returns provided to the School to aid in determining dependency. These forms may have been provided previously in support of the student’s financial aid application. Parents may also send a statement in writing certifying that the student is a dependent with a copy of a current income tax form attached.
The School may also disclose non-directory educational information to parent(s)/legal guardian(s):
In an emergency, if the knowledge of information is necessary to protect the health or safety of the student or other persons OR
Regarding the student’s violation of any federal, state, local law, or any institutional policy or rule governing the use of alcohol or a controlled substance under FERPA guidelines OR
At other times as the School’s administration deems appropriate within FERPA guidelines.For further information on FERPA, please contact the Office of the Registrar or Director of Administration & Human Relations.
The School may disclose non-directory educational information from the academic records of a student without consent as follows:
- To other school officials, including teachers within the School whom the school has determined to have legitimate educational interests. This includes contractors, consultants, volunteers, or other parties to whom the school has outsourced institutional services or functions.
- To comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena.
- To appropriate officials in connection with a health or safety emergency.
- At other times as the School’s administration deems appropriate within FERPA guidelines.
Questions?
917-493-4478
registrar@uupt.net
