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<DOCID>FERPA_article.doc.txt</DOCID>
<AUTHOR>Amanda Reed</AUTHOR>
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The FERPA: Do You Know What Its About?

How many students actually know what the FERPA is? Sure everyone has at least heard of it, but do they really know what its all about? First of all, FERPA stands for Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. The Federal Government created the Act in 1974 to guarantee, that Colleges and Universities will maintain the confidentiality of student educational records.

Primarily what this act does is grant certain rights to Universities including Lake Superior State University and the students. The College has the right to release a students directory information without that students authorization. It also gives the students access to their educational records. 

Students have the right to refuse the University the permission to give out their personal information. To do this they must compose a written request stating that they do not want their information put into the directory and the request must be received before the end of the sixth day of fall semester. By doing so, the student is basically saying to the University that they do not want to be recognized as a student of that educational institution. 

Students of the University also have the right to view their educational records at anytime and ask the University to amend their record if they feel there is inaccurate or misleading information contained within those respective records. It is up to the University to follow through with the amendment and if it chooses not to do so, the University is to make the student aware of its decision. The university will usually advise the student of their right to a hearing in regard to their request for the amendment. 

According to the Registrars office, students also have the right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by Lake Superior State University to comply with the requirements of FERPA. 

Students may access documentation of the FERPA on the LSSU website under the Registrars link. The link outlines what the FERPA is about and explains what a student needs to do if they do not agree with part of the Act. 
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