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FERPA Information

The purpose of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is to afford students certain rights with respect to their educational records.

These rights include:

  1. The right to inspect and review the student's educational records within 45 days of the day the university receives a request for access. Students should submit to the appropriate university official a written request that identifies the record they wish to inspect. The university official will make arrangements for access and notify the students of the time and place where the records may be inspected.

    What is considered an educational record?

    • Academic records
    • Admission records
    • Athletic records
    • Disciplinary records
    • Financial aid records
    • Tuition payment records
    • Veterans records

    The following exceptions to the above list apply:

     

    • Confidential letters and recommendations placed in student files prior to 1975.
    • Parents' financial records.
    • Records connected to the application to MSOE if the application was denied.
    • Education records containing information about more than one student, in which case the university will permit access only to that part of the record which pertains to the inquiring student.
    • Alumni records or any records created after the student left school.
    • All other records excluded by FERPA.
  2. The right to request the amendment of the student's educational records that the student believes are inaccurate or misleading. Students may ask the university to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading. They should write the university official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed and specify why they believe it is in error. If the university official decides not to amend the record, the university will notify the student of the decision and, if applicable, advise the student of the process to appeal that decision.
  3. The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student's educational records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.

    Milwaukee School of Engineering will disclose information from a student's educational records only with the written consent of the student except:

    1. To an MSOE official with a legitimate educational interest in the records.

      An MSOE official is:

      • A person employed by the university in an administrative, supervisory, academic or research, or support staff position.
      • A person or company with whom the university has contracted (such as an attorney, auditor or collection agent).
      • A person serving on the Board of Regents.
      • A student serving on an official committee or assisting another MSOE official in performing his or her tasks.

      An MSOE official has a legitimate educational interest if the official is:

      • Performing a task that is specific in his or her job description or by a contract agreement.
      • Performing a task related to a student's education.
      • Performing a task related to the discipline of a student.
      • Providing a service or benefit relating to the student, such as counseling, job placement or financial aid.
    2. To accrediting organizations to carry out their functions.
    3. To comply with a judicial order or a lawfully issued subpoena.
    4. To appropriate parties in a health or safety emergency.
    5. To representatives of agencies from which the student has received financial aid.
  4. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by MSOE to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The address is: Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act Office
    Department of Education
    330 Independence Avenue SW
    Washington, DC 20201