Records and Registration
FERPA
FERPA: Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
FERPA is a federal privacy law that protects students’ educational records. Under this law, students have three primary rights:
- Inspect and review their education records.
- Seek to amend incorrect education records.
- Have some control over the disclosure of information from their education record.
FERPA directory information is information contained in a student’s education record that generally would not be considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if disclosed. Under current CU Denver policy, the following information is designated as directory information:
- Student name. If provided, a preferred name will be used when there is not a documented business or legal reason to provide a student’s primary name. Students may also select a diploma name for graduation and commencement materials.
- Hometown (city, state).
- Campus email address.1
- Dates of attendance.
- Previous educational institutions attended.
- School/college or division of enrollment.
- Majors, minors and field of study.
- Classification level (e.g., first-year, sophomore, graduate student).
- University recognized honors and awards.
- Degree status (e.g. expected graduation date and/or conferral dates/terms).
- Enrollment status.
- Employment related to student status (e.g. teaching assistant, resident assistant or work-study) and dates for positions held.
- Participation in officially recognized activities/sports, including height and weight of athletes.
- Photos and videos taken or maintained by the university.
1 Campus email addresses are only disclosed to requestors who agree not to use them for solicitation.
Although these items are designated by CU Denver as directory information, only a limited amount of this information is routinely disclosed by CU Denver university officials. The university retains the discretion to refuse disclosure of directory information if it believes such disclosure would be an infringement on student privacy rights.
Students may ask the university not to publicly disclose directory information. Be aware, however, if you are seeking employment, the Office of the Registrar cannot release your enrollment, degree status or major to anyone unless you come to the Office of the Registrar with a photo ID.
Forms to prevent disclosure of directory information can be obtained at Lynx Central, located in the Student Commons Building, or via the Office of the Registrar’s forms webpage.
Information that is never released without your consent includes grades, tuition/fees owed, financial aid, etc. If you would like to give permission to someone else to have access to that information, you can submit a Release of Confidential Information Form to the Office of the Registrar. This form can be submitted in person with a photo ID or if sent via fax, mail, or email it needs to be notarized.
If you have questions regarding your rights under FERPA, please contact the Office of the Registrar.