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Privacy of Student Records

To the Point - Student Handbook 2025-2026 > Privacy of Student Records

 (THE BUCKLEY AMENDMENT) 

Notification of Rights under FERPA for Postsecondary Institutions: The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect to their education records. These rights include the following: 

  1. The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days of the day the College receives a request for access. Students should submit to the registrar, dean, head of the academic department, or other appropriate official, written requests that identify the record(s) they wish to inspect. The College 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 College official to whom the request was submitted, that official shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed.  
  2. The right to request the amendment of that part of the student’s education records that the student believes is inaccurate or misleading. Students may ask the College to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading. They should write to the College official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. If the College decides not to amend the record as requested by the student, the College will notify the student of the decision and advise the student of their right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the student when notified of the right to a hearing.  
  3. The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. One exception which permits disclosure without consent is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed  by the College in an administrative, supervisory, academic, research, or support staff position (including law enforcement  unit personnel and health staff); a person or company with whom the College has contracted (such as an attorney, auditor, or  collection agent); a person serving on the Board of Trustees; or a student serving on an official committee, such as a  disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing their tasks. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill their professional responsibility. Upon request, the College discloses education records without consent to officials of another school in which a student seeks or intends to enroll. The following information related to a student is considered “directory information” and  the College reserves the right to disclose it to anyone inquiring without the student’s consent unless the student, within ten  (10) days of registration each semester, informs the Office of the Registrar in writing on the proper form, available in the  Office of the Registrar, that any or all such information about him/her is not to be made public without his/her written  permission: The student’s name, address, phone number, email address, photographs, date and place of birth, year in college,  parents’ names and addresses, prior educational institutions attended, dates of college attendance, degrees, scholarships,  awards received, weight and height of members of athletic teams, participation in officially recognized activities and sports. 
  4. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by St. Mary’s College of Maryland to comply with the requirements of FERPA: 

Family Policy Compliance Office 
U.S. Department of Education 
400 Maryland Ave. SW 
Washington, DC 20202-4606 

For further information concerning FERPA, please contact the Office of the Registrar, Glendening Hall 120. 

Health and Counseling records kept in the Wellness Center are considered medical records and are not covered under FERPA. Health and Counseling records are covered under the Maryland Medical Records Act. Inquiries about these records should be forwarded to Wellness Center staff.