Annual Notification of Student Privacy Rights under FERPA

Dear Student:

William Paterson University is committed to maintaining the privacy and confidentiality of your education records. We want to take this opportunity to give you a brief summary of your rights with respect to your education records under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974. This federal law governs the release of and access to student education records.

These rights include:

  1. The right to inspect and review the student’s educational records within 45 days of the day William Paterson University receives a request for access. Students should submit to the Office of the Registrar written requests that identify the record(s) they wish to inspect. The University official will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where records may be inspected. If the records are not maintained by the University official to whom the request was submitted, that official shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed.

  2. The rights for the student to request that the University amend education records that they believe are inaccurate or misleading. The student should write to the William Paterson University official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. If the University official decides not to amend the record as requested by the student, the University will notify the student of the decision and advise the student of their right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the student when they are notified of the right to a hearing.

  3. The right to consent to disclosure of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. One exception, which permits disclosure without consent, is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. The school official is defined as a person employed by the University in an administrative, supervisory, academic, or support staff position (including University police and campus wellness center personnel); a person or company with whom the University has contracted (such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent); a person serving on the Board of Trustees; or a person assisting another school official in performing their tasks. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill their professional responsibility.

  4. William Paterson University considers the following as “directory information” and will release the following student information upon request: • Name • Student’s e-mail address • Telephone listing • Degrees and awards received • Major field of study • Date and place of birth • Dates of attendance • Most recent previous school • Classification • Participation in officially recognized sports and activities To prevent the release of the above referenced “directory information,” the student must file the “Directory Information Release” form with the Office of the Registrar each year.

  5. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by William Paterson University 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 D.C. 20202-4605

Students who do not wish to have their information released outside William Paterson University or published in the campus directory must give written notice to the Registrar’s Office annually prior to the start of the fall semester. Every reasonable effort will be made to safeguard the confidentiality of such information. For more specific details about FERPA, you may view FERPA policy on the U.S. Department of Education's Family Policy Compliance Office (FPCO) website.

If you have questions regarding FERPA, you may contact the Registrar’s office at: registrar@wpunj.edu.

Sincerely,

Susan Astarita

University Registrar