Academics & Privacy

Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA)

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) gives students certain rights regarding the privacy of and access to their education records. In compliance with FERPA, MassBay cannot share information from student records, such as grades, billing, tuition and fees, or financial aid details, with third parties, including parents, family members, friends, spouses, or sponsors.

Students who are currently or formerly enrolled in credit or non-credit classes are protected under FERPA, regardless of age or dependency status. However, FERPA does not apply to applicants who are denied admission or who are accepted but never attend MassBay.

FERPA applies to all institutions that receive federal funding and is administered by the Secretary of Education. An exception to FERPA is the Solomon Amendment. Let me know if you want a slightly shorter or more student-friendly version.

FERPA Release Form

A student may grant a third-party access to their academic information by completing MassBay's FERPA Release Form on their Bay Navigator account.

Log into your Bay Navigator account and click on the "My Forms" tile

Click on "Fill out a new form" and complete the "FERPA Release Education Record" form

Enter the individual(s) to whom you release your education records and select the records you consent to be released

FERPA Restriction of Student Directory Information Form

A student may request to not have their directory information released by completing MassBay's FERPA Restriction of Student Directory Information request on your Bay Navigator account.

Log into your Bay Navigator account and click on the "My Forms" tile

Click on "Fill out a new form" and complete the "FERPA Restriction of Student Directory Information" form

At the bottom, select Yes to request the restriction.

CAN PARENTS ACCESS STUDENT RECORDS?

Once a student turns 18 or attends a post secondary institution, FERPA rights transfer from the parent to the student.

At the college level, parents do not have automatic access to student records, even if the student is under 18. Records can only be shared with parents if the student provides written consent or if required by a subpoena.

WHAT IS DIRECTORY INFORMATION?

Each year, the College notifies students about what is considered directory information and their right to restrict it.

Directory information includes: name, awards, enrollment status, major, semesters attended, graduation date (actual or expected), and degrees or certificates earned. This information may be shared without prior consent. Students can request to restrict some or all of this information by completing a FERPA Restriction of Student Directory Information.

How Student Information Is Used for Recruiting Purposes

Federal law requires colleges to share certain student information with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) for military recruiting purposes if it is requested. This information can include your name, contact details, age or year of birth, place of birth, class level, major, degrees earned, and prior schools attended.

If the DoD requests this information, the College must release it—even if some of the details are not normally considered “directory information” under College policy. When this happens, the College will post a notice in the Registrar’s Office for one academic year to let students know that the request was made and what information was shared.

However, if you have formally opted out of having any of your information treated as directory information, no information will be released to third parties, including the Department of Defense.

SOLOMON AMENDMENT EXCEPTION TO FERPA

The Solomon Amendment is a federal law that allows military recruiters to access some address, biographical and academic program information on students.

The Department of Education has determined the Solomon Amendment supersedes most elements of FERPA. An institution is therefore obligated to release data included in the list of “student recruiting information,” which may or may not match MassBay's FERPA directory information list. Students who wish to restrict release of their information must submit a Restriction of Directory Information Form. Please note: completing a Directory Information Non-Disclosure Request form restricts disclosure of directory information to any party other than the exceptions allowable under FERPA, including the inclusion of a student’s name on public graduation lists and honors notifications.

RIGHT OF COMPLAINT

Students have the right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the College to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA is:

Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, S.W.
Washington D.C. 20202-5901 39

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

For more information about FERPA, including information specifically for parents and students, visit the U.S. Department of Education.