Student Privacy
Maintaining the privacy of student educational records is an important priority for Penn State. Students have the right to access their grades, transcripts and other educational records under established University policies. Parents and family members are advised to discuss this issue with their student if there is an expectation that these records will be shared. (See below for information about "dependent" students.)
Penn State Policies on the Privacy of Student Educational Records
Federal legislation, known as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974 identifies the rights of students and their families with respect to student educational records kept by institutions. As part of the requirements of FERPA, the University has a Policy on Confidentiality of Student Records (policy AD-11). The University has also developed related policies that concentrate on the use of institutional data (policy AD-23) and computer and network security (policy AD-20).
Penn State is committed to maintaining the privacy and confidentiality of a student's Social Security number. The Social Security number is requested at the time of degree or nondegree application to the University, but is used in a very limited and controlled manner. The primary student identification number used to conduct University business is the PSU ID, which is assigned at the time of first affiliation with Penn State. This practice is further described in policy AD-19.
Educational records of dependent students
When the student reaches the age of 18 or begins attending a postsecondary institution, regardless of age, FERPA rights transfer from the parent to the student. This means that parents may not obtain any of their student's education records without the written consent of the student.
However, full access their student's academic record will be provided if the parent first provides proof of dependency. To prove that the student is their "dependent," parents must submit a copy of the previous year's Internal Revenue Tax Form 1040 that contains the students' name. Once dependency has been demonstrated, student record information will be released to the parents without student consent.
Since student grades are part of the education record, they are protected under FERPA and, therefore, may not be released to parents. Students have access to their semester grades in one of two ways:
- online using eLion
- by submitting a request using eLion to have their grades mailed to them at their permanent address
For more information, see the U.S. Department of Education's brochure, "Parents' Guide to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act: Rights Regarding Children's Education Records."