Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
Annual Notice to Students
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974,
commonly known as the Buckley Amendment, is a federal law
that states an educational institution must maintain the
confidentiality of education records.
Luther Seminary shares the responsibility for ensuring
the security and privacy of the records and data maintained.
This includes requiring the written student signature for
the release of data, including transcripts and verifications
of enrollment.
The Office of the Registrar is responsible for
administering the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
(FERPA) at Luther Seminary. Annually, Luther Seminary
informs students of their rights under FERPA and the
regulations relating to FERPA.
FERPA affords students certain rights with respect to
their education records. These rights include:
- The right to inspect and review the students'
education records within 45 days of receipt of a request
for access. Students should submit a written request to
the Office of the Registrar.
- The right to request amendment of the student's
education records that the student believes is inaccurate
or misleading. Students should submit a written request to
the Office of the Registrar, clearly identifying the part
of the record they want changed, and specify why it is
inaccurate or misleading. The student will be notified of
the decision.
- The right to consent to disclosures of personally
identifiable information contained in the student's
education records, except to the extent that FERPA
authorizes disclosure without consent.
Upon request, Luther Seminary will disclose education
records without consent, when a school official has a
legitimate educational interest to review records in order
to fulfill his or her professional responsibility. A
school official is a person employed by Luther Seminary in
an administrative, supervisory, academic or research, or
support staff position; a personal or company with whom
the seminary has contracted (such as an attorney or
auditor); a student serving on an official committee or
assisting another school official in performing his or her
tasks.
Upon request, Luther Seminary discloses education
records without consent to officials of another school in
which a student seeks or intends to enroll.
- The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department
of Education concerning alleged failures by Luther
Seminary to comply with the requirements of FERPA.
For more information, please visit the FERPA website -
www.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/index.html
Notice Designating Directory Information - FERPA
This official notice regarding Directory Information
refers to detailed information held by and released by the
Office of the Registrar when there is valid need. Most
of the time, when you hear the word Directory on
campus, it refers to the Luther Seminary Directory which is
published and distributed by the Office of the Dean of
Students annually in a small book and which also appears on
the Intranet. It contains photos, mailing address,
phone number, email address and degree program for students
and similar information plus office location for faculty and
staff and is made available to all students, faculty and
staff each fall semester.
Student information contained in an education record that
generally would not be considered harmful or an invasion of privacy
if disclosed is identified as directory information.
Directory information contained in seminary records is released
upon request at the discretion of Luther Seminary and only for
official business related to the educational process.
Luther Seminary hereby designates the following
categories of student information as directory information
to be released upon request without student consent, unless
we are notified otherwise from the individual student.
- Name
- Address
- Advisor
- Student Status
- Gender
- Phone
- Email address
- Birthdate
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- Academic Standing
- Degree Program/Area of Study
- Dates of Enrollment
- Enrollment Status
- Prior Schools attended & Degrees Conferred
- Citizenship
- Photographs
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Students may refuse disclosure of directory information
by informing the Office of the Registrar in writing. A hold
on releasing specific information will remain in effect
until the student files a specific request to remove it. If
a student does not specifically request the withholding of
directory information, Luther Seminary assumes that the
student approves of the disclosure of such information.
Luther Seminary cooperates with students and judicatories
of all denominations in providing appropriate information
for their candidacy process.
For students participating in the ELCA candidacy process,
information and recommendations pertaining to academic
standing and progress through the degree program and
candidacy process are shared with synodical staff and
candidacy committees as called for by candidacy
partnerships.
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