Annual Notice to Students
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974
James Madison University adheres to and annually informs students of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, as amended. This act, with which the institution intends to fully comply, was designated to protect the privacy of educational records. Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) students have certain rights with respect to their education records.These rights include:
- The right to inspect and review the student's education records within 45 days of the day the University receives a request for access. Students should submit to the registrar, dean, head of the academic department, or other appropriate official, written requests that identify the record(s) they wish to inspect. The University official will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. If the records are not maintained by the University official to whom the request was submitted, that official shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed.
- The right to request the amendment of the student's education records that the student believes are inaccurate or misleading. Students may ask the University to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading. They should write the University official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. If the University decides not to amend the record as requested by the student, the University will notify the student of the decision and advise the student of his or her right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the student when notified of the right to a hearing.
- 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. One exception which permits disclosure
without consent is disclosure to school officials with legitimate
educational interests. A school official is a person employed by
the University in an administrative, supervisory, academic or
research, or support staff position (including law enforcement unit
personnel and health staff); a person or company with whom the
University has contracted (such as an attorney, auditor, or
collection agent); a person serving on the Board of Trustees; or a
student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or
grievance committee, or assisting another school official in
performing his or her tasks. A school official has a legitimate
educational interest if the official needs to review an education
record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility.
Upon request, the University may disclose education records without
consent to officials of another school in which a student seeks or
intends to enroll. The following is considered "Directory
Information" at James Madison University and may be made available
to the general public unless the student notifies the Office of the
Registrar in person or in writing within five days after the first
day of class registration:
Student's name, telephone numbers, addresses, date and place of birth, major and minor fields of study, college of major and year (freshman, sophomore, etc.), enrollment status (full-time/part-time) including credit hours, dates of attendance, degree sought and time, degrees conferred, awards and honors conferred, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of members of athletic teams, the most recent previous educational agency or institution attended by the student, fraternity and/or sorority and educational societies.
- The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by James Madison University to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the office that administers FERPA is: Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20202-4605.