Office of the Registrar - University of Colorado, Boulder

Exceptions to Requiring Written Permission from Students

Regulations » FERPA Training » Exceptions to Requiring Written Permission from Students

When students request information from their own record - positive proof of identification is all that is needed.
Authorized representatives of the following, for audit, evaluation, or enforcement of federal and state supported programs:

Comptroller General of the United States.
The Secretary of the United States Dept. of Education.
U.S. Attorney General (Law Enforcement only).

State Educational Authorities.

Personnel within the institution determined by the institution to have a legitimate educational interest.
Officials of other institutions in which the student seeks to enroll on condition that the issuing institution makes a reasonable attempt to inform the student of the disclosure.
Persons or organizations providing to the student financial aid, or determining financial aid decisions.
Organizations conducting studies to develop, validate and administer predictive tests; to administer student aid programs; or to improve instruction.
Accrediting organizations carrying out their accrediting functions.
Parents of a student who have established that student's status as a dependent - IRS Code of 1986, Section 152.
Persons in compliance with a judicial order, or a lawfully issued subpoena, provided that the institution first make a reasonable attempt to notify the student. EXCEPTION: If the subpoena is issued from a federal grand jury, or for law enforcement purpose, and orders the institution not to notify the student.
A court, if the student has initiated legal action against the institution, or the institution has initiated legal action against the student.
Persons in an emergency, if the knowledge of information in fact is NECESSARY to protect the health and safety of the student, or other persons.
An alleged victim of any crime of violence or the results of any institutional, disciplinary proceeding against the alleged perpetrator of that crime, with respect to that crime.
Veteran's Administration officials in response to requests related to VA programs.
Representatives of the Department of Homeland Security or Immigration and Customs Enforcement, for purposes of the coordinated interagency partnership regulating the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS).
FERPA has been amended to permit educational agencies and institutions to disclose personally identifiable information from the student's records to the Attorney General of the United States or to his designee in response to an ex parte order in connection with the investigation or prosecution of terrorism crimes.
Parents of a student, under the age of 21, regarding a violation of any law, at any level, or institutional policy or rule governing the use of alcohol, or a controlled substance.
- Does not supersede any state law that prohibits disclosure of this information.
Certain education records may be released to a victim of an alleged perpetrator of a crime of violence or non-forcible sex offense. The disclosure may only include the final results of the disciplinary proceeding conducted by the institution.

When Sharing Information with a Third Party

Institutions are responsible for informing third parties to whom personally identifiable information is released that recipients are not permitted to disclose the information to others without written consent of the students.

All institutions are required to maintain records of requests and disclosures of personally identifiable information to third parties. These records will include the names and addresses of the requestor and his/her indicated interest in the records. These records of requests and disclosures are part of the student's education records and must be retained as long as the education records to which they refer are maintained by the institution.

School Officials

At the University of Colorado at Boulder, a school official is:

Employed by the university in an administrative, supervisory, academic or research, or support staff position (including law enforcement unit personnel and health staff).
Company with whom the university has contracted, e.g., attorney, auditor, collection agent.
Serving on the Board of Regents.
A student employee.
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.

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