The Guardian
Enoch Kelly Haney
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974
also known as the Buckley Amendment
Public Law 93-380 (also known as the Buckley Amendment, also known as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy—Section 438 of the General Educations Provisions Act) permits only the release of “directory information” about students without the student’s written consent.
“Directory information” includes: Student’s name, local and permanent addresses, e-mail address, telephone number, college, major, classification, current enrollment status, participation in recognized student activities, dates of attendance, degrees and awards received and dates of receipt, posting of individual student’s grades and interim class evaluations by code number or I.D. number and anticipated date of graduation based on completed hours.
The Law provides that any student may, upon written request, restrict the printing of such personal information relating to himself/herself as is provided in “directory information.” Forms for withholding student “directory information” are available in the Office of Admissions and Records in Buchanan Hall. The form must be completed by the end of the third week of classes in the fall to prevent printing of “directory information” in the Student Directory.
The Law requires the written consent of the student for the release to anyone (including parents) of other than “directory information” with the following exceptions—(a) other school officials within the educational institution who have legitimate educational interests; (b) officials of schools to which the student seeks to transfer; (c) the Comptroller General of the United States, the HEW Secretary, the administrative head of an educational agency, or State educational authorities; (d) in connection with the student’s application for, or receipt of, financial aid; (e) State and local officials or authorities to which such information is specifically required to be reported under the State statute and adopted prior to November 19, 1974; (f) organizations or educational agencies conducting legitimate research, provided no personal identifiable information about the student is made public; (g) accrediting organizations; (h) parents of a dependent student upon proof of dependency (exclusive of international students); (i) in connection with an emergency when such information is necessary to protect the health or safety of the student or other persons, and (j) to comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena.
Personal information shall only be transferred to a third party, however, on the condition that such party will not permit any other party to have access to the information without the written consent of the student.
Under the law, any student has the right to inspect and challenge his or her own educational file with the exception of letters of recommendation or other material when the author was guaranteed confidentiality prior to January 1, 1975. Positive identification of the student shall be required prior to such examination and the student is not guaranteed the right of privacy in examining the records, nor the right to remove them.
Each educational institution is required by the Law to maintain a record, kept with the education records of each student, which will indicate all individuals, agencies or organizations (other than those specified as having access without the student’s written consent) having obtained access to the student’s record.
AMENDED AND REISSUED
August 1, 1983
Office of Admissions and Records
University of Oklahoma
PARENTAL ACCESS TO STUDENT ACADEMIC RECORDS
Parents of a dependent student may have access to grades and other confidential academic information under guidelines provided in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974. Access to this information is limited to parents who claim the student as an exemption on their federal income tax return.
Requests for specific grade or other academic information can be addressed to the Office of Academic Records, University of Oklahoma, 1000 Asp Avenue, Room 330, Norman, Oklahoma 73019–0430. Each request must include a copy of the top portion of the parent’s most recent tax return, showing the student’s name and social security number listed as a dependent. Academic information can also be obtained by providing the Office of Academic Records with written consent of the student.
March 2008
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