The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, as amended (“FERPA”) is a federal law that gives students certain rights with respect to their education records.
Note: As an institutional policy, Harvard Law School does not offer a FERPA waiver form or parental release form for access to student information.
Education Records
Harvard Law School (HLS) routinely maintains records for its students that describe and document their work and progress. These education records generally include records such as permanent and local addresses, admissions records, enrollment status, course grades, reports and evaluations, completion of requirements and progress toward the degree, records of disciplinary actions, and letters of recommendation.
Access
To be useful, students’ records must be accurate and complete. The officials who maintain them are those in charge of the functions reflected in the records and the offices where the records are kept. These ordinarily include the Registrar of HLS, as well as other institutional officials. All students have access to their own education records and may contribute to them if they feel there is need for clarification. Students wishing access to their education records should contact the HLS Registrar’s Office, WCC Suite 4007. Ordinarily, students are asked to submit a written request that identifies the specific record or records he/she wishes to inspect. Access will be given within 45 days from the receipt of the request. When a record contains information about more than one student, the student requesting access may inspect and review only the portion of the record relating to him or her. Students also are not permitted to view letters and statements of recommendation to which they waived their right of access, or that were placed in their file before January 1, 1975.
Students should direct any questions they have about the accuracy of records to the person in charge of the office where the records are kept. If questions still remain, the matter may be referred to the Registrar in the HLS Registrar’ Office. Should it be necessary, a hearing may be held to resolve challenges concerning the accuracy of records in those cases where informal discussions have not satisfactorily settled the questions raised.
Directory Information
Harvard Law School regards the following information as “directory information,” that is, information that, under FERPA, can be made available to the general public: full name, reported date of birth, dates of attendance, concentration, class year, digitized image (please note that while Harvard classifies photos and images as directory information, these are rarely released to parties outside the University without the student’s permission), local or campus residence address and telephone number, university email address, prior degree information, home town or city at the time the application for admission was filed by the student, original class at time of matriculation, degree candidate status, date of graduation (actual or expected), degree(s) received with field of concentration and level of honors granted (if any), prizes, fellowships, and similar honors awarded, and, in certain cases, students’ and parents’ or guardians’ home addresses and telephone numbers. Please note that Harvard University’s definition of “directory information,” may include elements in addition to those used by HLS, and that requests for directory information received at the University level thus may result in disclosure of such additional elements.
Students may direct HLS not to disclose their directory information, usually known as putting in place a “FERPA Block.” To do so, a student must inform the HLS Registrar’s Office in writing, of that decision. Students should be aware of the possible consequences of putting in place a FERPA Block, such as missed mailings, messages, and announcements, non-verification of enrollment or degree status, and non-inclusion in the Harvard Commencement booklet. Students who have previously chosen to put in place a FERPA Block may decide to reverse this decision, also by informing HLS Registrar’s Office in writing.
Other Disclosures permitted under FERPA
In addition to permitting the disclosure of directory information, as set forth above, FERPA permits disclosure of educational records without a student’s knowledge or consent under certain circumstances. For example, disclosure is permitted to Harvard officials with a legitimate educational interest in the records, meaning that the person needs the information in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibilities, including instructional, supervisory, advisory, administrative, academic or research, staff support or other duties. “Harvard officials” include: faculty; administrators; clerical employees; professional employees; Harvard University Health Services staff members; Harvard University Police Department officers; agents of the University, such as independent contractors performing functions on behalf of HLS or the University; members of Harvard’s governing boards; and students serving on an official HLS or University committee, or assisting another Harvard official in performing his or her tasks. A student’s education record also may be shared with parties outside the University under certain conditions, including, for example, in situations involving a health and safety emergency. In addition, HLS will forward a student’s education records to other agencies or institutions that have requested the records and in which the student seeks or intends to enroll or is already enrolled so long as the disclosure is for purposes related to the student’s enrollment or transfer.
If the HLS finds that a student has committed a disciplinary violation involving a crime of violence or a non-forcible sex offense, then it also may, if legally permitted and in the Harvard Law School’s judgment appropriate, disclose certain information about the disciplinary case. The disclosure may include the student’s name, the violation committed, and the sanction imposed.
Student Rights under FERPA
As set forth above, under both Harvard policy and FERPA, students and former students may inspect and review certain of their education records that are maintained by Harvard. They also have the right to: exercise limited control over other people’s access to their education records; seek to correct their education records if they believe them to be inaccurate, misleading or otherwise in violation of their FERPA rights; file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education if they believe Harvard has not complied with the requirements of FERPA; and be fully informed of their rights under FERPA. Complaints regarding alleged violation of rights of students under FERPA may be submitted in writing within 180 days to the Family Policy Compliance Office, US Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20202-5920.
A FERPA block will remain in effect for continuing students and alumni until a written release has been received and processed by the Office of the Registrar.