FERPA Correction of Education Records

Students have the right to request correction of records they believe are inaccurate, misleading or in violation of their privacy rights.  The following are procedures for the correction of records:

  1. A student must ask the appropriate record custodian to amend a specific record.  In so doing, the student must identify the part of the record the student wants changed and specify why the student believes it to be inaccurate, misleading or in violation of the student's privacy rights.
  2. After reviewing the request, and within a reasonable time, the record custodian may or may not comply with the request.  If the record custodian decides not to comply, the record custodian will notify the student of the decision and advise the student of the right to a hearing to challenge the information believed to be inaccurate, misleading or in violation of the student's rights.
  3. Upon request, the record custodian will arrange for a hearing and will notify the student reasonably in advance of the date, location and time of the hearing.
  4. The hearing will be conducted by a hearing officer who is a disinterested party.  The hearing officer may be an official of the university.  The student shall be afforded a full and fair opportunity to present evidence relevant to the issues raised in the original request to amend the student's education records.  The student may have an adviser present at the hearing.  If the student desires to have an adviser present, the student must notify the hearing office of this fact, in writing, no later than two working days before the hearing.  Advisers are normally members of the ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵcommunity (i.e., current full time students, faculty, staff).  The adviser serves as a support person and is intended to be of direct assistance to the student before and during the hearing.  The adviser may not speak for the student or address the hearing officer.  If the adviser is identified as private legal counsel, a law student or a Law School faculty member, the hearing officer may reschedule the time and/or date of the hearing so ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵlegal counsel may be present.
  5. The hearing officer will prepare a written decision based solely on the evidence presented at the hearing.  The decision will include a summary of the evidence presented and the reasons for the decision.
  6. If the hearing officer decides that the contested information is not inaccurate, misleading or in violation of the student's rights, the hearing officer will notify the student that the student has a right to place in the record a statement commenting on the contested information and/or a statement setting forth reasons for disagreeing with the decision.  The statement will be maintained as part of the student's education records as long as the contested portion is maintained.  If ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵ discloses the contested portion of the record, it will also be disclose the statement.
  7. If the hearing officer decides that the information is inaccurate, misleading or in violation of the student's rights, the record custodian will amend the record and notify the student, in writing, that the record has been amended.
  8. Grades and academic/performance evaluations may be challenged under this procedure only on the basis of the accuracy of their transcription.
  9. ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵreserves the right, in its sole discretion, to revise its procedures regarding the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act at any time and without notice in light of applicable legal requirements or developments.