Privacy of Student Records

The Federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the University of California Policies Applying to the Disclosure of Information from Student Records afford students certain rights with respect to their educational records. They have the right:

To inspect and review records pertaining to themselves in their capacity as students;
To seek correction of their student records through a request to amend the records or a request for a hearing;
To file complaints with the Department of Education regarding alleged violations of the rights accorded them by the Federal Act; and
To request that personally identifiable information from their student records be withheld from disclosure except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.

The following information is designated as “directory information” and normally will be released by the campus without the consent of the student: name, current local and permanent telephone number, electronic mail address, date (MM/DD) of birth, major, number of units currently enrolled in, class level, dates of attendance, degree/honors awarded, most recent school attended, athletic information including height and weight, and participation in officially recognized organizations. Effective Fall 2017, UC no longer considers local and permanent mailing address as directory information.

Students have the right to restrict the disclosure of this information. A form to restrict disclosure of any or all of this information may be submitted at the Office of the Registrar. A student requesting such restrictions should be aware, however, of the implications of such a request. Please contact the Office of the Registrar at registration@sa.ucsb.edu for more information.

One exception, which permits disclosure without consent, is disclosure to campus officials with legitimate educational interests. A campus official is a person employed by the University in an administrative, supervisory, academic or research, or support staff position; a person or company with whom the University has contracted (such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent); or a student serving on an official committee, such as disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing their tasks.

A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill their professional responsibility.

Upon request, UCSB may disclose education records without consent to officials of another school in which a student intends to enroll.

Annually, the University of California, Santa Barbara, informs students of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, (FERPA) as amended. The Office of the Registrar publishes the notice in this catalog and on the appropriate web locations. View the Annual Notice to Students.

Additional information and questions regarding various privacy regulations can be addressed to the Office of the Registrar. The University’s policies and implementation procedures are available at: registrar.sa.ucsb.edu/Student-Records/student-records-privacy and policy.ucop.edu/doc/2710533/PACAOS-130,

UCSB publishes a Student and Faculty Directory which lists the name, telephone number, and email address of any enrolled student who has (a) answered affirmatively that he or she consents to be listed in the directory; and (b) not requested that directory information be withheld by submission of the appropriate form to the Office of the Registrar. A negative response to the Student Directory Option will result only in the withholding of the student’s name and email address information from the Student Directory. Any student who wishes to have other directory information withheld for purposes other than the Student Directory must submit a completed Request to Restrict/Release Student Data form to the Office of the Registrar as described above.

Students are given an opportunity to examine and update their personal information at any time upon request at the Office of the Registrar or through the GOLD System accessible through my.sa.ucsb.edu/gold.

University Policies and Disclosures

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University Policies and Disclosures