Rutgers, The State of New Jersey, complies with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). FERPA affords students certain rights with respect to their education records as that term is defined in the law. These rights include the following:

1. The student has the right to inspect and review his or her education records within 45 days of the date Rutgers receives a proper request.

2. The student has the right to request amendment of education records that the student believes are inaccurate or misleading.

3. Rutgers shall obtain the prior consent of the student before disclosing personally identifiable information contained in the student`s education records, except to the extent FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.

4. The student may direct complaints concerning the alleged failure of Rutgers to comply with the requirements of FERPA to the Office of Compliance, Student Policy, and Judicial Affairs, 3 Bartlett Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, 732/932-7312 ext. 11, or to the U.S. Department of Education, c/o Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, D.C., 20202-4605.

Students wishing to exercise their rights to inspect and review their education records should submit a written request to the appropriate official at the Rutgers office which is custodian of the records they wish to review. Students requesting amendment of education records should first review the policies and procedures of their college or school and/or consult with their dean or equivalent official. FERPA permits disclosure of personally identifiable information from a student`s education records to Rutgers officials with a legitimate educational interest in the records without student consent. FERPA also allows the university to release student directory information without a student`s consent, unless the student has requested such information be kept confidential. Directory information includes the student`s name, address, phone number, school of attendance, and several other fields of information. For information on how to keep your directory information confiden- tial, visit the Rutgers Online Directory by using the Find People link on the Rutgers home page http://www.rutgers.edu or contact the Office of the Registrar on your campus.

Rutgers uses a student`s social security number as an identification number. While the number is not released as directory information and its confidentiality is protected in the same manner as are other educational records, Rutgers offers students the opportunity to acquire a substitute number. Students wishing to have a substitute number assigned must go to the registrar`s office with two forms of identification and complete the appropriate forms. Rutgers publishes two official notices concerning FERPA at least twice per academic year. The official notices are archived on the Office of Compliance, Student Policy, and Judicial Affairs web site at http://www.rci.rutgers.edu/~polcomp. The notices provide full information on Rutgers` compliance with FERPA including the current definition of directory information. Students with questions about FERPA or the privacy of their records should consult these notices or contact the Office of Compliance, Student Policy, and Judicial Affairs, 3 Bartlett Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, 732/932-7312, cspc@rci.rutgers.edu.