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Privacy

Student Rights Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act

As required by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), the University has established policies governing privacy and release of student record information. 

An “eligible student” under FERPA is a student who is 18 years of age or older or who attends a postsecondary institution at any age. The primary policy governing privacy of student information may be reviewed here: University FERPA and Privacy Policy.  The University Registrar's Office is authorized to enforce this policy, in consultation with the Chief Privacy Officer and the Office of the General Counsel. 

Right to review educational records

Students have the right to inspect and review their educational records. 

The University Registrar coordinates all requests to review educational records.  Requests to review or amend student records should be addressed to:

Academic Records
Wayne State University
5057 Woodward, Fifth Floor
Detroit, MI 48202
registrar@wayne.edu

We are required by law to respond within 45 days of having received the request.

Right to request amendment of educational records

The student has the right to request amendment of the student’s education records that the student believes is inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy rights under FERPA.

A student who wishes to ask Wayne State University to amend a record should write the Office of the Registrar, clearly identify the part of the record the student wants changed and specify why it should be changed.

If Wayne State University decides not to amend the record as requested, the university will notify the student in writing of the decision and the student’s right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the student when notified of the right to a hearing.

Right to provide written consent

Students may authorize specific other people or entities to have access to their education records by filing an Authorization to Release Academic Records form. Students may revoke consent by email to academicrecords@wayne.edu

Right to file a complaint

Students have the right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by Wayne State University to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the office that administers FERPA is:

Student Privacy Policy Office
US Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202

Disclosure of student records information

Directory Information

Under FERPA, the university can designate information as directory information, which may be released to third parties without prior consent from the student.

Wayne State University considers the following information to directory information:

  • Name
  • University-provided e-mail address
  • Major
  • Classification (freshman, sophomore, etc.) 
  • Enrollment status (full-time, three-quarters-time, half-time, less-than-half-time, withdrawn)
  • Dates of Attendance
  • Participation in officially recognized university activities, including sports
  • Height and weight of members of athletic teams
  • Degree(s) received from Wayne State
  • Honors and/or academic awards received

Wayne State does not release directory information to third parties for commercial or non-educational purposes.  Requestors are expected to explain the benefit to our students.

Students may opt in or opt out of the release of directory information by filing a Request to Restrict Release of Directory Information form with the Records and Registration office. 

Military requests

The University will release student information made under the Solomon Amendment (10 USC Section 983) by Department of Defense recruiters.  Accordingly, students may not opt out of this type of release. 

School officials

The university may disclose education records without prior written consent under an exception allowing disclosure to school officials with a legitimate educational interest.  A school official is a person employed by the university in an administrative, supervisory, academic or support staff position (including law enforcement personnel and health system staff) or a person or company with whom the university has contracted as its agent to provide a service instead of using university officials. (Examples of this include collection agencies and the National Student Clearinghouse.)  

A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibilities to Wayne State University. 

Additional resources

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