WHAT IS AN EDUCATION RECORD?

• ANY RECORD, WITH CERTAIN EXCEPTIONS, MAINTAINED BY AN INSTITUTION THAT IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO A STUDENT OR STUDENTS. FROM WHICH AN INDIVIDUAL STUDENT CAN BE PERSONALLY (INDIVIDUALLY) IDENTIFIED

• THESE RECORDS INCLUDE: FILES, DOCUMENTS, AND MATERIALS IN WHATEVER MEDIUM (HANDWRITING, PRINT, TAPES, DISKS, FILM, MICROFILM, MICROFICHE, ELECTRONIC STORAGE) WHICH CONTAIN INFORMATION FROM WHICH STUDENTS CAN BE PERSONALLY (INDIVIDUALLY) IDENTIFIED.

This is the FERPA definition of an "education record." It is important to start with this definition since you must determine if a piece of information is an "education record." If the record can be identified as an "education record," it is subject to FERPA.

Notice how broad the definition is; not only in the information covered but also in the variety of media in which such a record can be found.

This definition basically tells us that an education record is not just a record that can be identified by a student's name; nor is it just a paper document found in the Registrar's Office.

This is a pervasive definition that draws most, if not all, academic and administrative offices of an institution under the FERPA umbrella.