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FERPA FAQs

  1. Admissions
  2. Student Consumer Disclosures
  3. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
  4. FERPA FAQs

FERPA, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act is a federal law that protects the privacy of a student’s education record and generally requires a student’s consent before such records are released. Information about students’ rights under FERPA and AUC University’s policies in implementing FERPA can be found at https://www2.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/ferpa/index.html

Students have primary responsibility for keeping parents informed about their progress at AUC. This policy reflects the University’s view that students should be treated as responsible adults and that our practices should promote each student’s growth and independence.

The University’s policy regarding communication with parents applies equally to students who are minors. Rights under FERPA transfer to the student, regardless of age, upon his or her matriculation into an undergraduate program at a college or university.

Once a student matriculates at AUC, parents no longer have an automatic right to access his or her education records. Instead, the access rights that parents had when the student was in elementary and high school transfer to the student, regardless of his or her age.

However, you still may have access to the academic record if: 

  • The information requested is directory information and the student has not elected for total non-disclosure.
  • You can demonstrate that the student is a dependent, as defined by the IRS.
  • The student has indicated your name in a signed FERPA release to parents form.
  • The information is released in response to a lawful subpoena.

If a student has provided consent to disclosure of information from his or her education records, the University will communicate with parents in the following situations:

  • If the student voluntarily withdraws or takes a leave of absence
  • If the student is suspended or dismissed from the University
  • If the student is required to leave University housing
  • In response to questions or concerns about the student’s financial aid or student account 

The University may also communicate with parents if the student is placed on academic probation.

Even without consent, the University will communicate with parents in the event of an emergency that poses a threat to the health or safety of the student. We will also communicate with parents if a parent loan or financial obligation has been canceled or if a student under the age of twenty-one is found to have committed a serious violation of laws or rules pertaining to alcohol or controlled substances.

If the student has not provided consent to disclosure, we will not communicate with parents about the topics above. If you would like to receive such communications, ask your son or daughter to provide consent.

The University recommends that parents ask the student about his or her academic progress and sign a consent to release information request.

Regardless of the student’s consent, the University official responsible for financial aid will respond to parent questions regarding the parent’s own financial information and provide general information regarding financial aid awards. Once a student has matriculated at the University, he or she will need to provide consent to disclosure before staff will discuss details of the financial aid award with parents.