Privacy of Student Records

The federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) governs both the release of and access to student records maintained by K-12 as well as post-secondary educational institutions. Students have the right to inspect and review their education records, to amend them, and to limit disclosure of some personally identifiable information known as "directory information." FERPA permits institutions to release or disclose any personally identifiable information if the student has given prior written consent; institutions also may release or disclose directory information without prior written consent unless a student has requested non-disclosure or release of any or all items identified as such.

Directory information is information that generally is not considered an invasion of privacy if disclosed. Stanford University has identified the following items as directory information: name; date and place of birth; directory address and phone number; e-mail address; campus office address; permanent address; residence assignment, room or apartment number; specific quarters of registration at Stanford; Stanford degree(s) awarded and dates; major(s), minor(s), and field(s); University degree honor(s); institution attended immediately prior to Stanford; ID card photo for University classroom use. Items that can never be identified as directory information include a student's social security number, citizenship, gender, religious preference, grades, and GPA.

Generally speaking, non-directory information requires prior written consent before it can be released or disclosed. However, personally identifiable information (directory and non-directory items) may be disclosed without prior written consent to institutional officials having a legitimate educational interest in that information and in certain other situations (such as in response to a judicial order or subpoena or in health or safety emergencies).

Students may request non-disclosure (or revoke that request) of directory information at any time through Axess.