{"id":281,"date":"2025-03-10T14:50:05","date_gmt":"2025-03-10T19:50:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/registrar\/?page_id=281"},"modified":"2026-03-26T12:15:33","modified_gmt":"2026-03-26T17:15:33","slug":"ferpa-for-faculty-staff-and-student-workers","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/registrar\/faculty-staff-resources\/ferpa-for-faculty-staff-and-student-workers\/","title":{"rendered":"FERPA for Faculty, Staff and Student Workers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<section class=\"uwm-u-py-80\"><div class=\"uwm-l-container--base uwm-l-container--overflow-hidden\">\n<div class=\"uwm-l-row\">\n<div class=\"uwm-l-col\"><header class=\"page-header\"><h1 class=\"entry-title heading-separator\">FERPA for Faculty, Staff and Student Workers<\/h1><\/header>\n\n\n<p>FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974) is federal legislation in the United States that protects the privacy of students\u2019 educational record information. The act applies to all educational institutions that receive federal funds.&nbsp; FERPA states eligible students (students in attendance at an educational institution) have the right to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>inspect and review the education records the school is keeping on the student.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>request a correction to those records.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>control the disclosure of certain aspects of the student\u2019s education record.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>FERPA also mandates that institutions of higher education must obtain written permission from eligible students in order to release any personally identifiable information that is \u201cnon-directory\u201d information but allows colleges and universities to classify part of the education record as \u201cdirectory\u201d information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For the list of items that 51ÁÔÆæ deems to be educational records, directory information, and non-directory (private) information, visit the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/registrar\/students\/your-student-record\/sharing-and-protecting-your-information\/\">FERPA website for students<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"uwm-l-col uwm-l-col--4 uwm-l-offset--1\"><div class=\"content_block\" id=\"custom_post_widget-372\">\n<div class=\"uwm-l-buttons--full\">\n<a class=\"uwm-c-button uwm-c-button--full uwm-u-mb-20\" href=\"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/paws\" rel=\"\">PAWS<\/a>\n\n\n\n<a class=\"uwm-c-button uwm-c-button--full uwm-u-mb-20\" href=\"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/registrar\/enrollment\/stellic\/\" rel=\"\">Stellic<\/a>\n\n\n\n<a class=\"uwm-c-button uwm-c-button--full uwm-u-mb-20\" href=\"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/registrar\/contact\" rel=\"\">Contact<\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"uwm-block-otp-nav \"><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"uwm-bg-gray uwm-u-py-80\"><div class=\"uwm-l-container--base uwm-l-container--overflow-hidden\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading heading-separator\" id=\"h-general-information\">General Information<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As the Records Custodian and FERPA Coordination unit for the institution, the Registrar\u2019s Office is responsible for reviewing and approving requests from campus partners related to the release of student record information to 3rd party vendors.&nbsp;These requests must meet the following criteria:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Data is related to an application or service-specific need for information about students<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Data use is only for official 51ÁÔÆæ administrative or academic purposes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Data use is Consistent with the Board of Regents Acceptable Use Policy&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/regents\/policies\/acceptable-use-of-information-technology-resources\/\">https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/regents\/policies\/acceptable-use-of-information-technology-resources\/<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Data Request should be focused on a direct relationship between the data elements requested, purpose of the application and the potential benefit of the campus community<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Data requester must be aware of the Information Security Policy (S-59)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Please complete the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/registrar\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/671\/2026\/02\/Access-to-Services-Data-Request_12-3-2012.pdf\">Access to Services Data Request (pdf)<\/a>\u00a0and submit it to the Registrar\u2019s Office in these situations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Who Is Responsible?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>YOU!!&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/strong>If you have access to student data, you are responsible for its proper handling. No matter what the form or content, you are accountable for handling student records in accordance with FERPA and University policy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where do I get Training for FERPA?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Before receiving access to student records within PAWS, 51ÁÔÆæ faculty, staff and student workers are required to complete online Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) training.&nbsp;&nbsp;The&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/ferpa\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">online FERPA tutorial and quiz<\/a>&nbsp;require approximately 15 to 25 minutes to complete.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition to the required online training, staff in the Registrar\u2019s Office are available if further information or training are needed.&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/registrar\/contact-us\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Contact the Registrar\u2019s Office<\/a>&nbsp;with any questions or requests for&nbsp;more information.[\/expand]<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"uwm-u-py-80\"><div class=\"uwm-l-container--base uwm-l-container--overflow-hidden\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading heading-separator\" id=\"h-what-constitutes-student-consent-and-what-are-the-exceptions\">What constitutes student consent, and what are the exceptions?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>According for FERPA, an eligible student has the right to consent to the disclosures of non-directory information contained in the student\u2019s educational records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-student-consent-to-disclosure-of-information\">Student Consent to disclosure of information<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Should a student wish to consent to the release non-directory information contained within their educational records to third parties, 51ÁÔÆæ provides two primary ways for students to give third parties access to their educational record information: PAWS Designate Access, and Student Consent release. For more detailed information see the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/onestop\/your-student-record\/sharing-and-protecting-your-information\/\">Registrar&#8217;s Office website.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-exceptions-to-student-consent\">Exceptions to student consent<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In most cases student consent is required in order to release information contained within a student\u2019s educational record to third parties.&nbsp; Designated University employees may release non-directory information under certain strictly defined conditions. If someone outside your college or department requests non-directory information, refer the requester to the Registrar\u2019s Office. &nbsp;The Registrar\u2019s Office Staff can evaluate the request and ensure that it is handled according to FERPA and University policy.&nbsp; FERPA allows schools to disclose records, without written consent, to the following parties or under the following conditions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>51ÁÔÆæ officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official has a legitimate interest if the official needs to review an educational record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Other schools to which a student is currently enrolled or is transferring<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Specified officials for audit or evaluation purposes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Appropriate parties in connection with financial aid to a student<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Organizations conducting certain studies for or on behalf of the university<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Accrediting organizations<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>To comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Appropriate officials in cases of health and safety emergencies<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>State and local authorities, within a juvenile justice system, pursuant to specific State law.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Important note<\/strong>: In the event of a health or safety emergency, student information may be released to appropriate persons as required to protect the safety of students.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"uwm-bg-gray uwm-u-py-80\"><div class=\"uwm-l-container--base uwm-l-container--overflow-hidden\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading heading-separator\" id=\"h-quick-ferpa-guidelines\">Quick FERPA guidelines<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The following quick guidelines that should be followed by&nbsp;<strong>ALL<\/strong>&nbsp;UW-Milwaukee faculty, staff, and student workers:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"uwm-c-table \"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>#1:<\/strong><\/td><td>FERPA recognizes a person enrolled in post-secondary education as a \u201cstudent\u201d and provides that individual certain rights, regardless of age. Therefore, a parent does not have an inherent right to access his\/her child\u2019s education records.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>#2:<\/strong><\/td><td>Faculty, staff and student workers have access to education records for the sole purpose of performing their jobs professionally and responsibly. They have a responsibility to protect the confidentiality of education records in their possession, regardless of the medium in which the records are presented.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>#3:<\/strong><\/td><td>Education records are considered confidential and may not be released without the written consent of the student, with the exception of unrestricted Directory Information. It is the responsibility of faculty, staff and student workers to verify that student Directory Information is not restricted before releasing it.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>#4:<\/strong><\/td><td>School officials, including field supervisors for student teachers and student interns, must protect the privacy of education records and not disclose personally identifiable information about a student or permit inspection of the student\u2019s records without his or her written consent. The student\u2019s written signed consent must contain three elements:<strong>Specify the records to be released<\/strong><br>Examples: grades; notes based on observations; general assessment of performance of student in a class or in a field-based experience<strong>Identify the party or class of parties to whom the records should be released<\/strong><br>Examples: prospective employer, non-UW-Milwaukee school official, scholarship committee member<strong>Indicate the reason for the release<\/strong><br>Examples: as part of an application for employment, admission into a graduate program, application for a scholarship or grant<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"uwm-bg-white uwm-u-py-80\"><div class=\"uwm-l-container--base uwm-l-container--overflow-hidden\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading heading-separator\" id=\"h-what-faculty-and-staff-need-to-know\">What Faculty and Staff Need to Know<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Access or print this&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/registrar\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/671\/2025\/11\/FERPA-Faculty-and-Staff-Information_2.pdf\">Quick Reference Guide<\/a>&nbsp;for faculty and staff for quick information about FERPA and access to some frequently asked questions.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"has-alpha-channel-opacity uwm-c-hr--thick uwm-u-my-0\" \/>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":40,"featured_media":0,"parent":100,"menu_order":1,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"templates\/full-width.php","meta":{"footnotes":"","uwm_wg_additional_authors":[36919]},"class_list":["post-281","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.3 (Yoast SEO v27.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Registrar&#039;s Office<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/registrar\/faculty-staff-resources\/ferpa-for-faculty-staff-and-student-workers\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"FERPA for Faculty, Staff and Student Workers\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/registrar\/faculty-staff-resources\/ferpa-for-faculty-staff-and-student-workers\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Registrar&#039;s Office\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-03-26T17:15:33+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"10 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/uwm.edu\\\/registrar\\\/faculty-staff-resources\\\/ferpa-for-faculty-staff-and-student-workers\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/uwm.edu\\\/registrar\\\/faculty-staff-resources\\\/ferpa-for-faculty-staff-and-student-workers\\\/\",\"name\":\"FERPA for Faculty, Staff and Student Workers - Registrar&#039;s Office\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/uwm.edu\\\/registrar\\\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2025-03-10T19:50:05+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-03-26T17:15:33+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/uwm.edu\\\/registrar\\\/faculty-staff-resources\\\/ferpa-for-faculty-staff-and-student-workers\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/uwm.edu\\\/registrar\\\/faculty-staff-resources\\\/ferpa-for-faculty-staff-and-student-workers\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/uwm.edu\\\/registrar\\\/faculty-staff-resources\\\/ferpa-for-faculty-staff-and-student-workers\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/uwm.edu\\\/registrar\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Faculty &amp; 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