Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA)

Worcester Polytechnic Institute complies with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), which governs access and release of information from student education records. This statute, in part:

• Permits students to inspect their education records upon written request.
• Provides students the opportunity to request amendment to such records as inaccurate or misleading by writing to the official responsible for the record, identifying the part of the record requested to be changed, and specifying why it is inaccurate or misleading.
• Requires student written consent prior to disclosure of non-directory information such as grades and class schedules to persons outside of Worcester Polytechnic Institute (including parents). However, under FERPA, institutions may disclose information about a student without the student’s prior consent if the information is designated as “Directory Information”.

• Other information is designated as restricted. In most cases, such information will not be released to a third party without written release from the student specifying which records are to be released, and to whom. Under FERPA, however, prior student consent is not required for disclosure of education records to certain individuals and entities, including, but not limited to, school officials who have been determined to have a legitimate educational interest and who need to review an education record in order to fulfill their professional responsibility (including contractors, consultants, volunteers or other parties to whom the school has outsourced institutional functions or services); officials of another school where the student seeks or intends to enroll or where the student is already enrolled if the disclosures are related to the student’s enrollment or transfer; authorized representatives of U.S. Comptroller General, the U.S. Attorney General, the U.S. Secretary of Education, or state and local educational authorities; in connection with financial aid for which the student has applied or which the student has received; to accrediting organizations; to comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena; and to appropriate officials in connection with a health and safety emergency, among others. 

  Examples of non-directory information include, but are not limited to:

  • Social Security number
  • Grades
  • Hours completed
  • Grade point average (GPA)
  • Current class schedule
  • Parent name and address
  • Race/Ethnicity
  • Gender
  • Country of citizenship
  • Religious affiliation
  • Disciplinary status
  • Marital status
  • Test scores (e.g., SAT, GRE, etc.)
  • Requests to limit disclosure of directory information (and to rescind previously filed requests to limit disclosure) must be filed in the Office of the Registrar.

The items listed below are designated as “Directory Information”: 

• full name
• expected date of graduation
• major
• dates of attendance
• enrollment status
• degrees and awards received
• most recent or previous educational agency or institution
• advisor
• email address
• campus mailbox
• permanent address
• local address
• local phone
• photograph
• height and weight (for athletic purposes only)

Under the provisions of FERPA, the university is permitted to release Directory Information without a student's consent. A student, however, has the right to restrict the disclosure of any or all of their Directory Information.

Written notification to withhold Directory Information must be sent to the Registrar’s Office. Forms are available in the Registrar’s Office or on the Registrar’s website. A request to restrict the disclosure of Directory Information does not restrict internal use of such by the university.

Students and former students are entitled to review, inspect and obtain copies of their educational records (with some limitations). FERPA defines education records as: "records which: (1) are directly related to a student, and (2) are maintained by an educational agency or institution."

Students may request to review their records by sending a written request to registrar@wpi.edu. 

Students may allow access to certain records by granting third-party access in Workday. Read these instructions to learn what records are available to be accessed in Workday and how to set up this access.

When do the student FERPA rights begin?

According to FERPA, a person becomes a student for purposes of FERPA when they are "in attendance" at an institution. In attendance means a student is officially registered for at least one class and that class has started.

What is a Student?

One who is, or has been, officially registered, and who attends, or has attended, classes at WPI regardless of their age or status in regard to parental dependency. 

What is Personally Identifiable Information?

A student’s name, the name of the student’s parent or other family member, the address of the student or the student’s family, or other information that would allow the student to be identified.

Can I call WPI officials to find out how my child is doing?

Students have primary responsibility for keeping parents informed about their progress at WPI. This policy reflects the institution's view that students should be treated as responsible adults and that our practices should promote each student’s growth and independence.

What if my child is a minor?

WPI policy regarding communication with parents applies equally to students who are minors. Rights under FERPA transfer to the student, regardless of age, upon his or her matriculation into an undergraduate program at a college or university.

What if my child has not provided Consent to Disclosure?

If the student has not provided Consent to Disclosure, we will not communicate with parents about non-directory information. If you would like to receive such communications, please ask your child to provide consent. Students have the ability to delegate access to view bills, schedules, and grades in Workday. Read these instructions to learn how to set up this access.

My child is a minor and is taking classes at WPI while still in high school – do I have rights?

If a student is attending a postsecondary institution – at any age – the rights under FERPA have transferred to the student. However, in a situation where a student is enrolled in both a high school and a postsecondary institution, the two schools may exchange information about that student. If the student is under 18, the parents still retain the rights under FERPA at the high school and may inspect and review any records sent by the postsecondary institution to the high school.

To file a complaint regarding your FERPA rights, you may contact the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act Office, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, D.C. 20202.

Questions related to FERPA should be directed to the Office of the Registrar.

Location:Unity Hall

Office Location: Room 435

Phone: 508-831-5211

Fax: 508-831-5931

registrar@wpi.edu

To learn more information on FERPA, please visit:

• Student Privacy Policy Office 
• FERPA General Guidance for Students (from SPPO)
• FERPA Regulations (from SPPO)
• U.S. Department of Education