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Did you know that once your student registers and starts attending classes, the privacy of their education records is protected by University of the Pacific’s Student Records Policy and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)? It is important to understand how this privacy law works because FERPA is a federal law which applies to all schools that receive funds from the U.S. Department of Education. 

You might wonder what education records are exactly. They are records directly related to a student and maintained by the university, or sometimes by a party acting for the university. Examples of such information include grades, coursework, records indicating progress toward a degree, student financial accounts or any personally identifiable information. 

Pacific must follow very specific guidelines to release that information. As a parent or guardian, you need your student’s written permission to access their information. This consent must be written, signed and dated. It must also specify the records to be disclosed, the identity of the recipient and the purpose of the disclosure.

If your family needs to access your student’s education records protected under FERPA, ask your student to contact Pacific’s Registrar’s Office to obtain the Authorization to Disclose Confidential Information form. After the completed form is submitted, the authorization will remain effective until your student rescinds it in writing. 

Of course, if it is necessary to protect the health or safety of your student or others, Pacific will follow guidelines to disclose the information under special circumstances. Those guidelines are also determined by University of the Pacific Student Records Policy and FERPA. For instance, to determine if the disclosure under special circumstances is necessary, Pacific will consider:

• the seriousness of the threat to health or safety
• the need for the information to meet the emergency
• whether the individual(s) to whom the information is released is able to deal with the situation
• the extent to which time is of the essence.

If you have additional questions, contact the Registrar's Office at 209.946.2135 or registrar@pacific.edu. Your student can also visit Pacific’s One-Stop Student Center at Knoles Hall.

Visit Pacific’s FERPA Compliance page to learn more about this policy.