Office of the Registrar - California Institute of TechnologyCalifornia Institute of Technology

FERPA Q&A

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Under FERPA, which of the following would NOT be acceptable:

·          Release of the title of a congressmen’s degree to the local paper?

·          The Provost having access to all students’ educational records?

·          A faculty member announcing to a class that they can pick up their graded quizzes from the box in

the hall outside of his office? 

    Answer: Graded quizzes in a box in the hall

At the college level, FERPA states that parents:

·          Have the same rights of access and review as their child?

·          Can only see their child’s records after receiving permission from the dean of students?

·          Can review progress reports and grades sent directly to the student’s permanent home address?

·          None of the above?

    Answer: None of the above

It is permissible for a professor to post student grades on an office door if only the last four digits of a student's social security number is used:

·          True or False?

o         Answer: False – no part of the SSN should be used        

Student representatives on university committees (e.g., UASH, curriculum, etc.) may have the right to see other students' education records during the deliberations of that committee:

·          True or False?

o         Answer: True, they are acting as Institute representative

Faculty have a right to inspect education records of any student attending Caltech without giving a reason:

·          True or False

o         Answer: False – they need a “legitimate need to know”

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last updated: 01/23/2008