Annual Notification

This notification provides a brief description to students of the basic FERPA information as related to review of education records, right to seek to amend inaccurate and misleading information, if any exists, and the right to ask the University not to disclose directory information.

I. The Right to Review His/Her Education Records

FERPA (The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) affords a student the right to inspect and review his or her records within 45 days of receipt of a written request for access. Students should submit to the registrar, dean, or head of the academic department (or appropriate official) written requests that identify the record(s) they wish to inspect. The University official will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. If the records are not maintained by the University official to whom the request was submitted, that official shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed.

II. The Right to Seek to Amend Inaccurate and Misleading Information

The student should write the University official responsible for the record; clearly identify the part of the record they want changed,, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. The request may not include amendments to the accuracy/fairness of grades in courses or any other assessment of academic performance. A complete detailed description of the requirements and procedures is found in the publicized policy or found on The Office of The University Registrar Web site and in The Office of The University Registrar.

III. Directory Information

The University of Alabama has designated the following information from a student's education record as "directory information," which may be disclosed under FERPA without the student's permission. (Asterisked items are printed in the University's telephone directory).

• Name*
• Class/Level
• Local Address
• UA School/College(s)
• Local Phone Number*
• Major(s)/Degree Program(s)
• Permanent Address
• Degree(s) Earned and Date(s)
• Permanent Phone Number
• Academic Awards and Honors
• UA email address*
• Prior Postsecondary Institution(s) Attended
• Dates of Attendance
• Full-/Part-Time Enrollment Status
• Participation in officially recognized activities and sports (or in intercollegiate athletic teams)
• Weight and height of members of intercollegiate athletic teams.

A copy of the policy on confidentiality of student records as established according to The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 and as amended can be obtained on the World Wide Web at www.registrar.ua.edu.

A printed copy of this policy can be obtained at:

The Office of The University Registrar Box 870134 206 Student Services Center Tuscaloosa AL 35487 (205) 348-4886

The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the University to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the office that administers FERPA is

Family Policy Compliance Office U. S. Department of Education 400 Maryland Avenue SW Washington DC 20202-4605

IV. Steps Students Must Take to Prevent Disclosure of Directory Information

The University of Alabama assumes that a student's failure specifically to request blocking access to any element of "directory information" constitutes approval for disclosure. To prevent the University from disclosing any "directory information" to third parties, students must sign and file a "Request" to Prevent Disclosure of Directory Information" with The Office of The University Registrar, 206 Student Services Center. Such requests may be filed at the time of the annual FERPA notification to students or at any other time during an academic year.

The request to prevent disclosure of "directory information" will remain in effect permanently, including after departure from the University, unless subsequently changed by the student. At the time of graduation, students will be given another opportunity to release such "information hold."

In order to prevent the asterisked directory information items listed in Section III above from appearing in the University's annual printed telephone directory, students must file a "Request to Prevent Disclosure of Directory Information" at the time of the annual FERPA notification or within the first two weeks of classes in the fall semester. Requests filed after the first two-week deadline in the fall semester will prevent designated "Directory Information" from appearing only in subsequent telephone directories.

Students who have no objection to the release of "directory information" through the media avenues specified in Section III, but who do not want to be included in either hometown news releases and/or any announcements of the official list of graduates must submit a written request to The Office of The University Registrar, Commencement Area to prevent the release of such information thirty days prior to the published commencement date.