Notification of Rights Under FERPA for Southern Wesleyan University

Academics / Academic Records / Notification of Rights Under FERPA for Southern Wesleyan University

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords 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 at any age.) These rights include:

  1. The right to inspect and review the student's education records within 45 days after the day Southern Wesleyan University receives a request for access. A student should submit to the Office of Academic Records 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
  2. 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.

    SA student who wishes to ask Southern Wesleyan University to amend a record should write the Office of Academic Records, clearly identify the part of the record the student wants changed, and specify why it should be changed.

    If Southern Wesleyan University decides not to amend the record as requested, Southern Wesleyan University 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.
  3. The right to provide written consent before Southern Wesleyan University discloses personally identifiable information (PII) from the student's education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.

    Southern Wesleyan University 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 typically includes a person employed by the Southern Wesleyan University 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 Southern Wesleyan University who performs an institutional service or 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 typically has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibilities for Southern Wesleyan University.
  4. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by Southern Wesleyan University to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the office that administers FERPA is:

    Student Privacy Policy Office
    U.S. Department of Education
    400 Maryland Avenue, SW
    Washington, DC 20202

Southern Wesleyan University currently defines directory information as:

  • Student’s full legal name
  • Student’s preferred name
  • Local and permanent address
  • Local and permanent telephone number
  • Email
  • Hometown
  • Dates of attendance
  • Major and minor fields of study
  • Enrollment status
  • Class standing (e.g. Freshman, Sophomore)
  • Previous educational institutions attended
  • Participation in officially recognized sports and activities
  • Height and weight of student athletes
  • Awards and honors (e.g. Dean’s List)
  • Degree(s) conferred
  • Photographic or videotaped images of the student

Southern Wesleyan University may disclose directory information to a third party with a legitimate request if it is deemed to be in the student’s best interest. However, this will not occur if you explicitly inform the Registrar’s office in writing that you do not wish for this information to be released.