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FERPA
Protect student privacy with FERPA
Streamline FERPA compliance using FormAssembly data collection.
What is FERPA, and how does it apply to higher education faculty and staff?
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law that protects the privacy of student educational records. As faculty and staff that handle student data, understanding and complying with FERPA is crucial in your daily interactions with students.
Key FERPA points for faculty and staff:
- Confidentiality: You are responsible for safeguarding the confidentiality of student education records. This includes grades, transcripts, disciplinary actions, financial aid information, and any other personally identifiable data.
- “Need to know” principle: Access to student records should be granted only on a “need to know” basis for legitimate educational purposes. Don’t share information with colleagues who don’t require it for their assigned duties.
- Written consent: Generally, written consent from the student is required before disclosing any information from their education record to a third party, including parents (unless they are dependents). Exceptions exist for directory information, school officials, and certain legal requirements.
- Directory information: If you designate specific information (e.g., name, address, phone number, major) as “directory information.” Students need to be able to opt-out of disclosing this information. Be mindful of not including directory information with non-directory information when sharing student data.
- Record retention: Follow best practice guidelines for retaining student records related to your courses or interactions. Securely dispose of outdated records using university-approved shredding procedures.
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FERPA-compliant data collection
Build web forms
Build secure, online forms in minutes with our drag-and-drop builder. No coding is required.
Create workflows
Eliminate manual data entry and streamline approvals with secure automated workflows.
Secure e-signature
Get legally binding electronic signatures from students, parents, and guardians without needing separate software.
One platform
Securely collect and manage multi-campus data for all students, faculty, and alumni in one central location, making access control and reporting easy to use.
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ferpa-Compliant data collection
Focus on what matters most – your students’ education – knowing that your data collection complies with FERPA regulations.
FormAssembly empowers academic institutions. Here’s how:
Save time
Focus on what matters – educating your students – by streamlining FERPA compliance.
Reduce errors
Eliminate data entry mistakes and ensure the accuracy of student records.
Strengthen security
Protect sensitive student data with industry-leading security features and encryption.
Customize outreach
Communicate clearly with parents and guardians through secure online forms and automated notifications.
FERPA questions? We’re here for you.
Move beyond the paper chase and manual processes
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