Student Registration and Financial
Services (SRFS) recognizes the importance of protecting
the privacy of student and applicant records under
the University’s Policy on the Confidentiality
of Student Records, personally identifiable information
from a student or applicant’s record generally
may not be disclosed except with the student’s
written permission. SRFS also requires individuals
to properly secure access to student data via desktop
hardware/software and printed manual records.
Restrictions on Disclosing Student
Information
In general, University faculty and
staff may not disclose personally identifiable information
from a student or applicant’s records except
with the student’s written consent. Some of
the most common exceptions to this rule are:
- To school officials with a “legitimate
educational interest”- in other words, where
the information is required or would be helpful
in the performance of his or her duties, or in
the pursuit of an enterprise sanctioned by the
University;
- To parents, if the parent properly
documents that the student is a dependent for tax
purposes;
- As required by other law. (If an
office receives a subpoena, court order or other
legal papers soliciting student records, please
contact the Office of General Counsel).
University faculty and staff
may disclose directory information, such as name,
address, telephone number, and other designated
demographic data, without the student’s consent,
unless the student has chosen to object to such
disclosure by “opting-out.” Students
can exercise their right to opt-out by contacting
the University Registrar’s Office. See also http://www.upenn.edu/directories/
As a general rule, University faculty
and staff must inform any recipient of student records
that they may not redisclose that information unless
they obtain the student’s written consent.
Summary of University Policy on the
Privacy of Student Records
A summary of University policy
on the privacy of student records, which includes
rights under the Family Educational Rights and
Privacy Act (“FERPA”), often referred
to as the “Buckley Amendment”, is available
at: http://www.upenn.edu/oacp/privacy/penndata/ferpa.html |
