Release of Information
Cumberland University complies with all provisions of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA or Buckley Amendment) of 1974 (amended) dealing with the release of educational records. No information, except directory information, contained in any student’s record is released to persons outside the University or to unauthorized persons on the campus without the written consent of the student. It is the responsibility of the student to provide the Office of the Registrar and other University offices, as appropriate, with the necessary specific authorization and consent. Disclosure of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s education records is permitted to college officials with legitimate educational interests. A college official is a person employed by the University in an administrative, supervisory, academic or research, or support staff position (including law enforcement personnel and health staff); a person or company with whom the University has contracted; a person serving on the Board of Trust; or a student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another college official in performing his or her tasks. A college official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibilities.
Directory information includes name, home address, school address, telephone listing, e-mail address, date and place of birth, major field of study, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of members of athletic teams, dates of attendance, Dean’s List, degrees and awards received, and most recent previous educational institution attended. This information may be released to appear in public documents and may otherwise be disclosed without student consent unless a written request not to release this information is filed each semester in the Office of the Registrar. Such notification must be received before August 1 for the Fall semester, before December 1 for the Spring semester, and before May 1 for the Summer semester. No official academic information about a student will be released until all University requirements, forms, and records are complete.
If the student believes the University has failed to comply with the Buckley Amendment, he/she may file a complaint using the Cumberland University Incident Report in the Student Handbook . Complaints must be filed using the procedures outlined for student grievances in the Student Handbook. If dissatisfied with the outcome of the procedure, a student may file a written complaint with the Family Policy and Regulations Office, U.S. Department of Education, Washington, D.C. 20202.
Questions about the application of the provision of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act should be directed to the Vice President for Academic Affairs.