FERPA Overview for Students

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974, as amended, governs the access and privacy of student educational records. At the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa, FERPA rights enable students to control the disclosure of their information under certain conditions. Upon enrollment, FERPA rights belong to the student. Students are encouraged to understand their rights and responsibilities under FERPA, as outlined on this page. These rights include:

  • Consent Required: The university may disclose educational records or personally identifiable information only with the student’s written consent, except under specific exceptions permitted by FERPA.
  • Directory Information: Information deemed as “directory information” may be released unless the student has placed a restriction on such disclosure.
  • Exceptions for Disclosure: Certain exceptions under FERPA allow the university to disclose educational records without student consent as outlined in FERPA 34 §99.31.

Students Rights Under FERPA

FERPA affords students the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa the following specific rights:

Right to inspect and review their educational records within 45 days after the day the University receives a request for access. Students should submit a written request to the Office of the Registrar, dean, or other appropriate official, which specifies the educational record(s) they wish to inspect and review.

Right to seek to amend their educational records that they believe are inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise a violation of their privacy rights under FERPA. If the University decides not to amend the educational record(s) as requested, it will notify the student of the decision and advise them of their right to a hearing regarding the requested amendment.

Right to control disclosure of certain portions of their educational records before the university discloses personal identifiable information from the students’ educational records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.

Right to file a complaint with the US Department of Education concerning an alleged failure by the University to comply with the requirements of FERPA.

Directory Information

In accordance with FERPA, the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa designates the following information as directory information, which may be made public unless the student restricts such disclosure:

  • Student’s name
  • Major field of study
  • Class level (e.g., freshman, sophomore)
  • Participation in officially recognized activities and sports
  • Weight and height of members of athletic teams
  • Dates of attendance
  • Previous institutions attended
  • Enrollment status (full/part-time)
  • Degrees and awards received (including anticipated graduation dates)

Disclosure of Non-Directory Information
Non-directory information is considered confidential and will not be released without explicit consent from the student, except under exceptions provided under FERPA, including, but not limited to, health and safety emergencies, and for the fulfillment of official educational duties by school officials.

Consent to Release Educational Records

  • Current Students: Currently enrolled students may authorize the release of specific educational records by completing the Consent to Release Educational Record form.
  • Former Students: Alumni or students no longer enrolled may contact us at uhmreg@hawaii.edu

Additional Information
The consent to release form does not authorize the release of financial aid or financial student account information. To authorize the release of financial details, please contact the UH Mānoa Cashier’s Office or Financial Aid Services office.

Consent to Withhold Educational Records

Consequences of Restricting Directory Information
Students should understand that restricting the release of directory information has other consequences. For instance, a FERPA restriction may prevent potential employers from verifying a student’s enrollment or degree(s) earned from the University. It will also impact the ability to have the student’s name printed in the commencement program. As long as the disclosure to withhold directory information remains active, the University will not release or publish this information, even after a student graduates, unless the request is formally withdrawn.

Solomon Amendment

The Solomon Amendment is a federal law that allows military recruiters to access some address, biographical and academic program information on students age 17 and older. The Department of Education has determined the Solomon Amendment supersedes most elements of FERPA. An institution is therefore obligated to release data included in the list of “student recruiting infor­mation,” which may or may not match the University’s FERPA directory information list. In addition, the Solomon Amendment does recognize student’s rights under FERPA to withhold disclosure of private information. Students can request to withhold student information unless prior written consent is obtained from the student.

Annual Notification

The University notifies students of their rights under FERPA by publishing this information on the Office of the Registrar website, University Catalog, and by direct communication to enrolled students.

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