FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy)
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) was enacted in 1974. See the FERPA Regulations that implement that Act.
The primary purpose of FERPA is to protect the privacy of student information, and this protection is achieved by controlling access to and disclosure of students' "education records," as that term is defined in FERPA.
Faculty, staff, and administrative officers at UNC Charlotte are required by FERPA to treat education records confidentially, unless a legal exception applies, or the student provides written consent to disclose.
Students also have the right to inspect and review their education records and to request that their records be amended.
For additional information, please see University Policy 402, Student Records and FERPA Guidance and Resources.
Parent Requests for FERPA-Protected Student Records
Generally, when a student enters UNC Charlotte, regardless of his or her age, all rights afforded to parents under FERPA transfer to the student, and the student’s written consent is required for disclosure of his or her education records.
However, FERPA also provides ways in which schools may share information with parents without the student's consent. For example:
- The University may disclose education records to parents if the student is a dependent for income tax purposes.
- The University may disclose education records to parents if a health or safety emergency involves their child.
- The University may inform parents if the student who is under age 21 has violated any law or its policy concerning the use or possession of alcohol or a controlled substance.
- A University official may generally share with a parent information that is based on that official's personal knowledge or observation of the student.
Parents should ask their students about the NEW Guest Access Portal and whether they can help their student succeed by having online view access to their education records. More information about that service is available at http://registrar.uncc.edu/guest-access.
For further information on disclosure of student education records to parents, please see University Policy 402, Student Records, or you may contact the Office of the Registrar or the Office of Legal Affairs.
Disclosure of a student's confidential education records requires prior written consent of the student (unless disclosure is permitted under certain exceptions to FERPA set forth in Section 99.31 of the FERPA Regulations). A student's written consent may be obtained by using the applicable form below.
Guest Access Portal - Students can also give their parents or other guests online view access to certain education records through the Guest Access Portal. More information about that service is available at https://ninercentral.charlotte.edu/student-records-personal-information/guest-access-portal-ferpa.
Online Student Consent Form for Access to Education Records - Use this electronically-submitted form:
- if you are a department or unit on campus other than a "University Official with legitimate educational interest" requesting disclosure of a student's education records, or
- if you are a student requesting disclosure of your own education records to a third party.
(If you prefer not to submit the form online, download and fill out .pdf version here: Student Consent Form for Access to Education Records)
Consent for Letters of Recommendation/Evaluation - In order to submit recommendations or evaluations in accordance with FERPA regulations, school officials must request that students submit this authorization/waiver or its equivalent prior to providing FERPA-protected student information to third parties.
Verification Letter - Use this form for verification when a third party has requested education records, and it is not clear that the student has consented to such disclosure in writing. Fill in the blanks on this sample letter then send to student. Do not release a student's records to the requesting party until he/she responds to this letter.