FERPA Policy

Oakland University’s commitment to its educational mission demands that it maintain information concerning characteristics, activities, academic performance and accomplishments of students.

All policies and practices governing the collection, maintenance, review and release of student education records are based on the principles of confidentiality and the student’s right to privacy, consistent with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA). FERPA is a federal law designed to protect the privacy of education records and to establish the right of students to inspect, review, amend and restrict access to their education records.

All University employees, including without limitation faculty, staff and student employees, and University contractors, must respect confidential information about students that they acquire in the course of their work. Additionally, OU shall be flexible enough in its policies not to hinder a student from accessing his or her own education records, and/or school officials accessing student education records if the University has determined that the school official has a legitimate educational interest in the information, as permitted by FERPA. Each of the record-keeping administrative units within OU may develop its own additional specific procedures in accordance with the general policy stated here.

In compliance with FERPA, OU will annually notify students of their rights and the institutional policies pertaining to FERPA. Notification will appear in publications such as the Student Handbook, Oakland Post, Schedule of Classes and the Golden Grizzly Guide. A full copy of OU’s FERPA policy is also available for download.