Families and the support they provide are important for student success. The following information constitutes official public notice of the University’s compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Students should visit our FERPA Information for Students page for more information.
The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law passed in 1974. As amended, the law protects the privacy of student records and sets requirements for the release of student information. It applies to K-12 schools and post-secondary institutions (colleges/universities).
FERPA governs the disclosure of education records maintained by an education institution, as well as access to these records. FERPA rights belong to the student at a postsecondary institution regardless of the student’s age. FERPA applies to all students, including continuing education students, students auditing a class, distance education students, former students and alumni.
Education records under FERPA are defined as records directly related to a student, which are maintained by an educational agency or institution, or by a party acting for the agency or institution, if certain conditions are met.
One of the most significant changes that families experience when a student enrolls in college is who has the right to access the student’s educational records.
Under FERPA, parents, guardians and other family members do not have access to their students’ postsecondary (college/university) education records. All rights belong to the student, regardless of their age.
UAlbany employees are required to be vigilant in protecting students’ academic records. The University provides students with secure, 24/7 access to MyUAlbany. Students can use this portal to view and manage their registration, class schedule, grades, degree audit, bills, financial aid, refunds, etc.
If a parent, guardian or family member contacts the University and requests access to their students’ academic record, we refer them back to the student and encourage an open dialogue.
Students can choose to share an unofficial transcript, degree audit and/or enrollment verification with their family members to demonstrate their academic performance and progress.
Current matriculated students can choose to provide direct access to a family member/supporter through the UAlbany Family Portal. Connections are only established if a student approves of the connection and only the information approved by the student would be visible to the family member/supporter.
Family members who need access to student billing information must ask their student to set up an authorized user in E-Pay. Authorized users can make payments on behalf of their student and access the student’s billing statements, payment history, account activity and tax statements.
Current or former students who would like to authorize the University to communicate with other third parties (for example, background check investigators) can submit a Consent to Disclose Education Records form. The Registrar’s Office then must authenticate the authorized third party’s identity by reviewing a valid, non-expired photo ID, either in person or via video call.
For any questions about FERPA, please contact the Registrar’s Office at [email protected].