Division of Student Affairs > Resources > Parents & Family > Family Connection News > 2021–2022 News > FERPA

Everything you need to know about FERPA

​​​While it is hard to let go of your student as they leave for college, it is important to understand and respect their privacy as an adult under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA). This is a federal law that maintains the privacy of your student's education records and affords them certain rights. Education records, according to FERPA's website, are “(1) directly related to a student; and (2) maintained by an educational agency or institution, or by a party acting for the agency or institution." In other words, they contain your student's grades, class schedule, financial aid history, student account statement and any other DePaul record that provides identification.

Students maintain the sole responsibility for setting and maintaining their FERPA directory release preferences in Campus Connect. Whether or not your student decides to give you access to these records, DePaul encourages all students to be open with their parents and families about their academic progress and any issues they may be struggling with. Make sure to find time to talk about this important decision. If they want to give you access, students can get a “FERPA release" from most offices at DePaul, which they can sign in order to allow the school to share their information with you.

Please note that FERPA's health and safety exception allows DePaul to provide information from education records without consent if it is determined that such disclosure is important to the safety and well0being of your student or other individuals. It is strongly recommended that students list their parents or guardians as their emergency contacts in Campus Connect.

Learn more about FERPA here​, contact DePaul Central via email​ or call 312-362-8610.

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