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FAQ for Parents

FERPA

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (“FERPA”) is a federal law that protects the privacy of education records for all students at Vanderbilt University (“Vanderbilt”)—regardless of age. Under FERPA, student education records are confidential, and only Vanderbilt’s students have the right to inspect and review their own education records. Vanderbilt may not release student education records to third parties (including parents) without the student’s prior written consent. Examples of protected student education records include, but are not limited to, grades, financial information, class schedule, and academic disciplinary information.

Students may consent in writing to the release of their academic information. If students have questions about that process, please encourage them to reach out to our office.

  • I had access to my student's education record before now. What changed?

    When a student is under the age of 18 and is attending a K-12 institution, parents maintain the right to inspect and review student education records under FERPA. Once a student turns 18 or matriculates at a post-secondary institution, these FERPA rights transfer exclusively to the student. FERPA therefore grants Vanderbilt’s students sole rights to inspect and review their own education records, regardless of the student’s age.

    FERPA defines “parent” as a parent of a student and includes a natural parent, a guardian, or an individual acting as a parent in the absence of a parent or a guardian.

  • How can I access my student’s record?

    We encourage parents to communicate directly with their student about the student’s academic record.

  • Doesn’t FERPA have an exception for when I claim my student as a dependent for federal tax purposes?

    FERPA allows, but does not require, disclosure of education records to the parents of a student who is claimed as a dependent for federal tax purposes. As a matter of policy, Vanderbilt does not disclose the education records of such students to parents.

  • Can I access my student’s education records in the event of an emergency?

    Under FERPA, Vanderbilt can disclose education records to appropriate persons, including parents, in connection with an emergency, as long as knowledge of the information contained in the records is necessary to protect the student’s health and safety or the health and safety of another person. In these situations, there must be an articulable and significant threat to the health or safety of the student or other individuals for Vanderbilt to be able to disclose a student’s education records without their consent.

    Please encourage your student to review their emergency contact information in YES.

  • Can I use my student’s login information to gain access to their academic record?

    No, the student computing policy expressly forbids the sharing of login information. Violation of computing policies may result in corrective action through the university's accountability process.

  • Can I have access to my student’s medical records?

    Medical records are governed by a separate law, HIPAA, which generally does not apply to Vanderbilt. If a student’s medical records become part of their academic records, however, FERPA would protect these records and Vanderbilt would require the student’s written consent to disclose them.

  • Where can I find more information about FERPA?

    The Office of the University Registrar maintains detailed information on FERPA and how it is applied at Vanderbilt: https://registrar.vanderbilt.edu/ferpa/.

    The Department of Education maintains information on FERPA here: https://studentprivacy.ed.gov/ferpa.