The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), also known as the “Buckley Amendment,” is a federal law that gives protection to student educational records and provides students with certain rights.
Please select a topic below to learn more about FERPA:
What are the Student's Rights Under FERPA?FERPA Restrictions
How to Enact a FERPA Hold
FERPA Hold Implications
How to Remove a FERPA Hold
Third-Party Access: Guest/Parent Account
What are the Student's Rights under FERPA?
- The right to inspect and review their education records.
- The right to seek amendment to those records and in certain cases append a statement to the record.
- The right to consent to disclosure of his/her records.
- The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education.
- The right to obtain a copy of the University of Nebraska Omaha's Student Records Policy.
A copy of the policy is available online and at the Office of the University Registrar, Eppley Administration Building, Room 105. For information regarding the Student Records Policy, please contact the Office of the University Registrar at 402.554.2314.
FERPA also authorizes the release of “Directory Information” without a student’s prior consent, under certain conditions which are set forth in the Act.
The University of Nebraska Omaha strives to fully comply with FERPA by protecting the privacy of student records and judiciously evaluating requests for release of information from those records. Furthermore, in accordance with the Act, University of Nebraska Omaha has specifically defined “Directory Information” and provides annual notification to students of their rights in the Undergraduate Catalog and the Office of University Registrar website.
FERPA Restrictions
Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), you have the right to restrict the release of certain student information to non-university entities. This hold will prohibit the release of information to potential employers, local newspapers, etc. Once a restriction has been placed, no information (degree, graduation dates, etc.) on the student can be verified by Office of the University Registrar staff.
How to Enact a FERPA Hold
You can enact a FERPA Restriction through your MavLINK account or by signing a Non-Disclosure Form.
- Log in to MavLINK
- Select "Academics" from the left side drop down menu
- Click "My Grades"
- Click on "Update FERPA Restrictions" link (FERPA box right hand side)
- Select "Edit FERPA/Directory Restrictions”
- Select “Restrict All Fields”
- Save your choice
FERPA Hold Implications
Restricts:
- Announcements of honors/awards
- Employer verification of degree information
- Name being printed in commencement program
- Communications from businesses
- Communications from UNO Student Organizations
Allows:
- Communications from UNO Departments and Offices
How to Remove a FERPA Hold
You can remove a FERPA Restriction through your MavLINK account or by filling out a Request for Removing Non-Disclosure Restriction form.
- Log in to MavLINK
- Select "Academics" from the left side drop down menu
- Click "My Grades"
- Click on "Update FERPA Restrictions" link (FERPA box right hand side)
- Select "Edit FERPA/Directory Restrictions”
- Select “Release All restrictions”
- Save your choice
Third-Party Access: Guest/Parent Account
We understand that many students wish to share information with their parents and family members, so we have created a method that allows students to provide third party access to this information. Up to five (5) parent/guest accounts can be created with unique access options.
Students can authorize another person, such as a parent or guardian, to view specific types of personal information in the Student Information System (SIS) through a Guest Account. In addition, a student can allow the guest to have online access, in-person access, or both. In-person access refers to in person, phone or email communication with campus personnel through the use of a shared secret. The following are descriptions of the types of access a student can grant the guest.
Online Access Descriptions:
- Financial Aid (View financial aid and student to-do lists)
- Personal Information (View addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, student to-do lists)
- Student Accounts (View and pay bills, view account history and 1098T forms)
- Student Records (View class schedules and grades)
In-Person Access Descriptions:
- Academic (In person/phone email conversations about final grades, classes, GPA, advising, transfer work, etc.)
- Financial Aid (In person/phone email conversations about all financial aid)
- Personal Information (In person/phone email conversations about admissions, biographical data, addresses, pictures, holds, status, disciplinary records, etc.)
- Student Accounts (In person/phone email conversations about tuition, fees, payment, collections, etc.)
- Student Records (In person/phone email conversations about admissions, biographical data, addresses, pictures, holds, status, disciplinary records, etc.)