Authorization to Release (FERPA)

The FERPA, Explained

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law that protects the privacy of student records and prohibits university staff from disclosing certain information to parents or other individuals without the permission of the student.

FERPA and the Financial Aid Office

The Financial Aid Office (FAO) takes student privacy seriously. Records created and maintained by the FAO are considered education records and cannot be disclosed to a third party without the student's prior written consent.

Authorization to Release Information

If you want to allow us to share your financial aid details with your parents, a guardian, a spouse, or other supporters, you must provide written permission via your student portal via these steps:

1. Log into your Student Center and click the “Authorization to Release” link in the Personal Information section.
   
   
2. Enter the name of each person to whom you wish to release your information.
3. Create a unique 4-digit access code for them and add an expiration date (make sure that they know the code!)
4. Add the department(s) whose information you wish to share, the records to be released, and the purpose of the release.
5. Once you have completed the form, select Save at the bottom of the form.

Note that third-party designees will be required to identify themselves and provide your name and student ID number or SSN along with their access code in order to confirm that they are an authorized designee.

Information will not be released unless these criteria are met. If the person does not know or has forgotten their access code, you will need to give it to them again. We cannot release it for you.