Privacy of Students Records

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 is a federal law which states (a) that a written institutional policy must be established and (b) that a statement of adopted procedures covering the privacy rights of students be made available.  The law provides that the institution will maintain the confidentiality of each student's educational records.

Dakota State University accords all rights under the law to any person enrolled as a student.  No individual or organization outside the institution shall have access to nor will the institution disclose information (except directory information) from the students’ educational records without the written consent of students except to the following personnel:  employees of the institution as designated by the President; officials of other institutions in which students seek to enroll; organizations conducting studies for, or on behalf of, educational agencies or institutions for the purpose of developing, validating, or administering predictive tests; persons or organizations providing student financial aid; accrediting agencies carrying out their accreditation function; persons in compliance with a judicial order; and persons in an emergency in order to protect the health or safety of students or other persons.

Within the University, only those members, individually or collectively, acting in the student’s educational interest are allowed access to student records. 

At its discretion, the institution may provide the following directory information in accordance with the provisions of the Family Rights and Privacy Act of 1974:  student name, address, email address, telephone number, date and place of birth, major field of study, dates of attendance, degree and awards earned, the most recent previous educational agency or institution attended by the student, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, and weight and height of members of athletic teams.  Students may withhold directory information by notifying Student Services in writing no later than the 15th day of each semester that the student is enrolled.  Authorization to withhold directory information must be filed each semester.