Information regarding the release of student information


Explanation

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) is a US federal law. It governs:

  • The release of education records maintained by Texas Tech, and the responsibility of the university
  • The privacy of student education records
  • Students' rights to access their education records

Difference between directory information and education records

Examples of directory informationExamples of education records
  • Student name
  • Local and permanent address
  • Place of birth
  • Major field of study
  • Classification
  • Dates of attendance
  • Degree, awards, and honors received
  • Participation in officially recognized sports/activities
  • Previous institution attended
  • Specific enrollment status (full time, part time, undergrad, law, etc.)
  • Grades and GPA
  • Transcripts
  • Schedules
  • Papers, tests, and test scores
  • Disciplinary records
  • Personally identifiable information (PII) [Date of birth, phone numbers, Social Security number, TechID, gender, email address, ethnicity)

Directory information can be released unless the student has chosen to restrict it by enabling the confidentiality option in Raiderlink. If the student has chosen to withhold the information, it cannot be released outside the university, or even to someone inside the university unless they have a need to know for a job-related task.

Students can voluntarily release their education/academic records to anyone they wish, such as their parent, guardian, or spouse. Educational records may also be released to a parent if the parent submits evidence to the Office of the Registrar that they claim the student as a dependent for federal income tax purposes.

Another option is a student signing a power of attorney document. There are student legal offices on campus that can help with this sort of decision, but it would have to be entirely voluntary on the student's part. Even if the student signs a power of attorney document or some sort of release, when the third-party individual contacts a particular TTU department, they would have to present the power of attorney document each time. Texas Tech does not have a system in place to make this available to each department.

Parents with questions can contact the Parent and Family Relations office at 806-742-3630 or parent@ttu.edu. For students with disabilities, contact Student Disability Services at 806-742-2405 or sds@ttu.edu. Other parties can contact the Dean of Students & Vice Provost for Student Life at 806-742-2184 or the contact the Office of the Registrar.