Course Objectives

CM141 - FERPA and Privacy: A Practical Approach

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA or the Buckley Amendment) is a federal law in the United States designed to provide students with access to, and the privacy of, their educational records. The law applies to students in higher education and educational institutions that receive funding under a program administered by the U.S. Department of Education. This course is designed to provide participants with a working knowledge of FERPA guidelines to ensure proper handling of educational records and other institutional requirements.


Module 1: FERPA Fundamentals

  • Describe the basic fundamentals of FERPA
  • Describe the elements which determine if an item is considered an “educational record” protected under FERPA
  • List items which establish a data element as “personally identifiable”
  • Describe conditions categorizing an item as “sole possession”
  • List the student rights outlined in FERPA guidelines
  • Identify who is considered a school official
  • Explain the criteria that establish “legitimate educational interest”

Module 2: FERPA Compliance

  • List the items required as part of a school’s annual disclosure
  • Identify items that MAY be included as Directory Information
  • Identify items can NEVER be included as Directory Information
  • Describe what a student can request for non-disclosure
  • Identify the exceptions whereby an institution may release information without student consent

Module 3: FERPA in Action

  • Describe the requirements for an institution to release information to a student
  • Identify requirements for handling releases
  • Explain how and when a student may opt out of sharing Directory Information
  • Describe limitations on items that cannot be released
  • Define what stage in the enrollment cycle triggers FERPA compliance

Module 4: FERPA Challenges to Consider

  • Identify challenges related to student activities and participation in committees
  • Explain how and which vendors are accountable to meet FERPA standards
  • Explain how to handle potentially conflicting regulations
  • Identify when HIPAA, Solomon Amendment, or Gramm-Leach-Bliley guidelines prevail over FERPA
  • Identify strategies to handle FERPA risks related to online learning environments
  • List technology resources that schools should address as part of their efforts to maintain FERPA compliance
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