Regulations
Educational Rights and Privacy Act
Both Extension School policy and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), as amended, provide students with certain protections concerning the confidentiality of their educational records. No information about Extension School students, except that which is defined below as directory information, is released outside the University without the student's prior written consent unless otherwise authorized or required by law. The Extension School, however, maintains the legal right to withhold the release of directory information to third parties who may not have an educational interest in the information. The Extension School defines the following student information as directory information: name; dates of enrollment; full- or part-time status; degree, certificate, or diploma program; area of concentration; Harvard University photo image for degree, certificate, and diploma candidates; academic honors; prior degrees and schools attended; and expected or actual date of graduation.
Students have the right to withhold the disclosure of this information. They may use forms that are available at 51 Brattle Street, or they may submit their own clearly written requests. No student information is released about students who have requested the Extension School to withhold the disclosure of directory information, unless otherwise authorized or required by law. Students should carefully consider this decision because once they choose to withhold directory information, it will not be released to anyone, including prospective employers seeking confirmation of enrollment.
Under FERPA, the Harvard Extension School is allowed to disclose, without the student's prior written consent, student information that is not considered directory information to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by Harvard University in an administrative, teaching, research, law enforcement, or health services position or an agent of the University, such as a person with whom or a company with which the University has contracted. The Harvard Extension School determines whether an official has a legitimate educational interest by considering if disclosure of the information is appropriate for the effective functioning of the person's office, their position, or the University.
Students have the right to inspect and review their educational records. To do so, they should submit written requests to Academic Services identifying the records they wish to inspect. Academic Services contacts students to arrange for access to the educational records within 45 days of receipt of the requests. Students should call Academic Services for more information. Students have the right to request the amendment of their educational records to ensure that they are not inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of their privacy or other rights. Academic Services notifies students of the decision concerning their requests and advises students of their right to a hearing if they continue to disagree with the content of their educational records.
Students have the right to file a complaint with the US Department of Education concerning alleged failures by Harvard Extension School to comply with FERPA. Such complaints may be submitted in writing to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act Office, Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20202.
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