Rosalind Franklin University Student Records Policy and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) provide guidelines for maintaining the confidentiality of education records and monitoring the release of information from those records.

Definition of Education Records

Education records are those records directly related to a student and maintained by the university or by a party acting for the university. Some examples: records of grades, coursework, records indicating progress toward a degree, student financial account records.

Parent Rights

Once a student has reached age 18 or is attending the university, all FERPA rights belong to the student. Parent access to education records is limited to information classified as Directory Information under the Rosalind Franklin University Student Records Policy. The following information is classified as Directory Information:

• Student's name
• Local address
• Permanent address
• Email address
• Telephone listings
• Year at the university
• Dates of attendance
• Academic college and major field of study
• Enrollment status
• Participation in officially recognized activities
• Degrees, honors and awards received
• Most recent educational agency or institution attended
• Photographic or electronic pictures or images

Parental access to other education records is allowed when the student provides the university with a signed and dated release specifying the records to be disclosed, stating to whom they should be disclosed and the purpose of the disclosure. Each instance of release of non-directory information requires its own separate and specific written authorization to release.

Parents are encouraged to read the Student Information section provided for students.

Family Emergency Situations

If a parent, guardian, or other family member needs assistance in contacting a Rosalind Franklin University student in an emergency, they should contact the Department of Campus Safety and Security at (847) 578-3288.

Public Health or Safety Emergencies

Disclosure of information from education records is allowed under the Rosalind Franklin University Student Records Policy and FERPA in connection with a health or safety emergency if the information is necessary to protect the health or safety of the student or others. Factors the university considers in determining whether to make the disclosure include:

• 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 in a position to deal with the situation
• The extent to which time is of the essence