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  The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act ensures confidentiality of student educational records and restricts disclosure to or access by third parties, except as authorized by law. Parents of dependent students, as defined in Section 152 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, are accorded full access by the University to their dependents' educational records, with certain exceptions, and they may receive copies of their dependents' grade reports each semester from the Office of the University Registrar. The University assumes that its undergraduate students are financially dependent unless a parent or the student informs the University that the student is financially independent. Students may provide this notification to the Access Officer using the Financially Independent Student form, a copy of which may be secured from the Office of the University Registrar. The University does not release personally identifiable information contained in student educational records, except as authorized by law.
In general, a student has the right to:
A student is defined as one who is, or has been, officially registered, and
who attends, or has attended, classes at Boston University.A dependent student is a student who meets the criteria of dependency as defined by Section 152 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, and is eligible to be claimed as a dependent for income tax purposes. Boston University permits parents of dependent students to access their dependents' educational records. With certain exceptions, educational records are records relating to a student that are maintained by the University. Directory information
Privacy preferences Students can restrict the release or publication of any directory information that may be released by the Registrar's Office, the Student Activities Office, the Athletics Department, or by his/her School, College, or program of enrollment, or by other offices of the University. Privacy preferences may be added or reversed. A student who wishes to restrict the release or publication of any directory information should do so on the Personal Page on the Student Link, (Personal tab, Data Restriction option). A student who does not have access to the Student Link should fill out the Directory Information Restriction Form. Students who have restricted their data will not be included in the graduation commencement bulletin or the yearbook. ** Please Note: Even after graduation, privacy preferences remain in effect. As an example: If a student has restricted the release of their degrees, honors, and awards, the Office of the University Registrar will not confirm degrees earned to prospective employers or any other party without the student's permission. 
To inspect educational records, submit a written request identifying the records to be inspected to the
appropriate University official using the Access Form. Students may obtain this form in the Office of the Dean of
each School or College or in the Office of the University Registrar. Parents of dependent students may obtain copies
of the Access Form by mail directly from the Office of the University Registrar.
Written requests to access records will receive a response within a reasonable time, but not more than forty-five days after submission. A University official will arrange for access and will notify the student (or parent of a dependent student) of the time and place where the records may be inspected. The University may charge a fee for a copy of the educational records requested. If a student does not know the specific location of the record, the request may be filed with the Access Officer, Office of the University Registrar, Boston University, 881 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts, 02215. 
A student does not have a right under FERPA to inspect information that is not an educational record, such as:
In addition, a student does not have the right to access certain educational records, such as:
A current or former student who wishes to permit another person to inspect or receive copies of the student's educational
records must provide a signed and dated written consent which must:
In general, the University may not disclose personally identifiable information from a student's educational records
without the student's prior consent. The University, in compliance with the law, will disclose personally identifiable
information without the student's prior consent under these conditions:
A. To University officials, staff, and others engaged in activities on behalf of the University The University discloses information to University officials, staff, and others who require information from student records to complete their assigned duties. These individuals include officers of the University, faculty, administrative staff, and medical and legal personnel, and may include consultants and professionals engaged by the University where disclosure of the information is necessary for them to fulfill their duties and responsibilities to the University and may include consultants and professionals engaged by the University. In addition, these individuals may include persons from outside the University, volunteers, and Boston University students who are requested to serve on an authorized committee or board of the University or to otherwise perform authorized tasks for the University. B. The information has been designated as Directory information including:
C. The information is a record of a campus disciplinary proceeding. Federal law requires the University to disclose to both the accuser and the accused student the outcome of all student disciplinary proceedings that involve a charge of sexual assault. In addition, the University may disclose the final results of student disciplinary proceedings regarding a crime of violence or a nonforcible sex offense. Final results include name of the offender, violation, and any sanction imposed. The University can also inform parents about violations of the University's drug and alcohol policy by a student under the age of 21. D. In compliance with a subpoena. The University will make a reasonable effort to notify the student of the subpoena before complying. However, in the case of a subpoena issued for law enforcement purposes, the University is not required to notify the student of the existence or the contents of the subpoena, or of the information furnished in response to the subpoena, if the Court or other issuing agency has ordered that such information not be disclosed. E. To authorized representatives of certain government offices The University will release information to authorized representatives of the U.S. Comptroller General's Office, the U.S. Department of Education, and state and local educational authorities in connection with an audit or an evaluation of federal or state supported programs and to assure the enforcement of or compliance with federal or state legal requirements related to these programs; and of the United States Attorney General for law enforcement purposes. F. In compliance with the Solomon Amendment The University will release student information for the purposes of military recruiting to the Department of Defense. The information released is limited to student name, address, telephone listing, date and place of birth, levels of education and degrees received, prior military experience, and the most recent educational institution attended. G. To officials of other institutions or organizations:
H. To the parents of dependent students In order to keep parents informed, the University, as a matter of policy, discloses information from a student's records to the student's parents without the student's prior consent if the student meets the criteria of dependency as defined by the Internal Revenue Code. In cases of divorce or separation, the University will communicate with both parents unless provided with evidence that one parent's rights have been legally revoked or otherwise limited. I. In emergency situations In the case of an emergency, the University discloses information to the appropriate parties if the University deems it necessary to protect the health, safety, or well-being of the student or other individuals. Such disclosure may include any disciplinary action previously taken against the student for conduct that posed a significant risk to the safety and well-being of that student, other students, or members of the University community. J. In response to complaints and legal actions involving the student and the University. If a student or parent initiates legal action or brings complaints against the University, the University may disclose information relevant to the response to the complaint without seeking the prior consent of the student. In addition, in the event that the University initiates legal action against a parent or student, the University may disclose relevant information without a court order or subpoena if a reasonable effort is made to notify the student or parent prior to disclosure. K. To authorized representatives of the state and local government The University may disclose information to these authorized representatives if disclosure is allowed pursuant to a state statute concerning the juvenile justice system. L. To accredited organizations The University may release information to organizations that accredit colleges and universities for the purpose of assisting their accrediting functions M. To organizations conducting studies for or on behalf of the University The University may disclose information to organizations seeking to improve education for or on behalf of the University (e.g. utilizing predictive tests or student aid programs). 
Under FERPA, information disclosed by the University may be subject to restrictions against redisclosure.
Students have the right to have their educational records maintained accurately. If the normal channels for amending
educational records within the University do not result in the desired corrections, students should submit a Request to
Amend Educational Records form to the designated records keeper. Such forms are available from the University Registrar's
Office. The University Access Officer will inform the student of the University's decision concerning the requested
amendment within forty-five (45) days from the date of receipt of the Amendment Form.
If the University decides not to amend the record as requested, it will (1) inform the student of the decision, (2) advise the student of his or her right to a hearing to challenge the content of the records on the grounds that the information contained in the record is (a) inaccurate or misleading (i.e., that the information in the records has been recorded incorrectly) or (b) violates the student's rights under FERPA and (3) explain the procedures to requests such a hearing. If, after the hearing, the University decides that the information contained in the record is not accurate or misleading, it will inform the student of the right to place a statement in the record commenting on the contested information or stating why the student disagrees with the University's decision. Note: The process of amending records or requesting hearings regards only information that has been recorded inaccurately or incorrectly or that violates the student's rights under FERPA. It is not a process to appeal grades, disciplinary decisions, or other University decisions with which the student disagrees but which have been recorded accurately. Normal review and appeal channels must be utilized where the dispute is with the decision itself and not with the accuracy with which the decision or information has been recorded. 
A student has the right to file a complaint with the Family Policy Compliance Office at the U.S. Department of Education
concerning alleged failures by the University to comply with the requirements of FERPA. A complaint must be submitted to
the Office within 180 days of the date of the alleged violation or of the date that the student knew or reasonably should
have known of the alleged violation. The complaint must contain specific factual allegations giving reasonable cause to
believe that a violation of the Act has occurred, and it should be forwarded to: Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S.
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, S. W., Washington, DC 20202-4605.
Questions about the University's policies and practices, or about specific educational records should be addressed to the Access
Officer, Office of the University Registrar, Boston University, 881 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02215.
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