This tutorial provides a review of the information found on this Web site. It will take about 10 to 15 minutes to complete.

True or False

1. A student’s degree can be confirmed to some external (outside of your college) source without first obtaining the permission of the student as long as “degree” is identified by the institution as directory information. _____      Answer: True
   Tutorial: A student’s degree is considered directory information and thus can be disclosed.
   
   
2. A student has a right to inspect information in his or her file in the Registrar’s Office and in his or her department. _____
   Answer: True
   Tutorial: Under FERPA, the student has the right to inspect and review educational records and request that they be amended.
   
   
3. It is permissible for a professor to post student grades on an office door if only a student’s social security number is used. _____
   Answer: False
   Tutorial: Social Security numbers and other personally identifiable information cannot be used for this purpose.
   
   
4. Parents may obtain confidential information from their student’s academic record without a student’s consent. _____
   Answer: False
   Tutorial: Parents do not have access to information about the student’s academic record unless the student has provided express, written authorization.
   
   
5. Faculty has a right to inspect education records of any student attending your college without giving a reason. _____
   Answer: False
   Tutorial: Faculty can only inspect education records if their normal job duties specifically require access. This type of access is termed “legitimate educational interest.”
   
   
6. It is permissible to distribute graded examinations by placing them on a table for students to pick up after class. _____
   Answer: False
   Tutorial: Students’ examinations are considered education records and thus cannot be displayed in this manner.
   
   
7. It is permissible for a faculty member to include a student’s grades and GPA in a letter of recommendation without obtaining the student’s written permission since the student requested the faculty member to write the recommendation and provided a copy of his/her resume with the requested information to the faculty member. _____
   Answer: False
   Tutorial: Even though the student requested the faculty member to write a recommendation, student grades and GPA are considered education records and thus cannot be released in this fashion.
   
   
8. A former student has the same right to inspect and review his/her record as a student currently attending the institution. _____
   Answer: True
   Tutorial: FERPA rights continue relative to a student’s education record past their last date of attendance.
   
   
9. According to FERPA, you can verify that a student is currently enrolled at the institution upon receipt of a telephone call. _____
   Answer: True
   Tutorial: Enrollment status is considered directory information under FERPA.
   
   
10. Notifying students of their FERPA rights via the Student Handbook is acceptable under FERPA. _____
    Answer: True
    Tutorial: Institutions typically exercise multiple modes of delivery for notifying students of their FERPA rights.
    
    
11. A student’s traffic violation is considered an “education record” under FERPA. _____
    Answer: False
    Tutorial: A student’s traffic violation is not considered an “education record” and would not be protected under FERPA unless traffic violation information is maintained in a student’s education file.
    
    
12. The FERPA rights of a student begin when the student is “in attendance” as defined by the institution. _____     Answer: True
    Tutorial: As defined by law, FERPA rights of a student do begin when the student is “in attendance” as defined by the institution. In the case of Cumberland University, “in attendance” is defined by a student having registered and paid and attending his or her first class.
    
    
13. To be an “education record,” a piece of information must be personally identifiable to a student, must be maintained by the institution, and must be made available to the law enforcement unit. _____
    Answer: False
    Tutorial: The law enforcement unit has no inherent right to a student’s “education record.”
    
    
14. FERPA applies to only private and religious institutions. _____
    Answer: False
    Tutorial: FERPA applies to an educational agency or institution to which funds have been made available under any federal program.
    
    
15. Faculty or staff can release student information without the student’s written permission to potential employers attempting to verify grades, class rank, and degree received. _____
    Answer: False
    Tutorial: See question #7.
    
    
16. The annual giving record of a former student would be considered an “educational record.” _____
    Answer: False
    Tutorial: Annual giving records are not currently protected by FERPA restrictions.
    

Click here to complete the FERPA Compliance Statement