FERPA Waiver

Family and Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

The Family and Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law regarding the privacy of student records and the obligation of the institution, primarily in the areas of release of the records and the access to these records. Any educational institution that receives funds under any program administered by the U.S. Secretary of Education is bound by FERPA requirements. lnstitutions that fail to comply with FERPA may have funds administered by the Secretary of Education withheld.

Waiver of FERPA Rights to Parents and Guardians

Under FERPA, parents and legal guardians are considered to be third-parties and may only have access to a student's education record with the consent of the student. Parents and guardians can request access to a student's educational records through the Gamecock Parent & Family Connection portal. Through the portal, such third-parties can submit an access request to their student. The request to access educational records is sent electronically to the student, and it is a student's right under FERPA to accept or decline the access request. The third-party will receive a reply via email with a response to the request.

Access granted by the student to parents or legal guardians will remain in effect until such time that the student revokes it. Once a student separates from the University, only requests for nondisclosure of Directory Information remain in effect.