Rights Regarding Educational Records
Bentley University Policy Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
This policy is issued in compliance with the regulations established by the Department of Education, 20 C.F.R. Part 99.6, for the university’s implementation of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, 20 U.S.C. 1232g, also known as FERPA. This policy is also guided by the laws in the commonwealth of Massachusetts concerning privacy. The university has established strong policy guidelines that support its adherence to FERPA and protect the rights of students, except under certain circumstances stated in the statute and its regulations and as noted below.
In compliance with the Student Right-to-Know and Campus Security Act of 1990, Bentley University provides annual statistics concerning “criminal offenses reported to campus security authorities or local police agencies.”
Notice
Students and parents receive notice of FERPA and their rights under FERPA through the electronic publication of the Student Handbook each academic year.
Access/Amendment to Educational Records
Students and eligible parents have the right to access the student’s educational records upon written request to the Office of Student Development, Conduct, and Care. An exception to this policy is made for requests from students or others for transcripts and degree information, which may be made directly to the Office of the Registrar. Requests for disclosure of educational records may be made by electronic signature when available. Each department/division of the university will determine if it will assess fees for copies of an educational record or transmission of an educational record to another party. All requests for changes to a student’s educational record must be made in writing to the Office of Student Development, Conduct, and Care. Students may also locate their own Student Conduct records anytime by visiting their Student Self-Service Portal.
Location of Educational Records
Educational records may be kept by the registrar, each committee, board, and department of the university, and by faculty and staff of the university in paper or electronic form.
Directory Information
Unless otherwise requested by the student, Bentley (Information Desk, Registrar’s Office, deans’ offices, etc.) may release to the public, student data considered “directory information.” If a student desires that directory information not be released, it is his or her responsibility to notify the Registrar’s Office in writing. Please note that students do not have the flexibility of choosing to release or not release particular items defined as directory information.
Bentley will not sell or give directory information for commercial purposes to external vendors who are not affiliated with the institution. The university may use all directory information for the operation of student organizations or university-sponsored functions. Directory information, as defined by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, includes the following information relating to a student: name, address, email address, photograph, telephone number, date and place of birth, class, enrollment status, major field of study, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of members of athletic teams, dates of attendance, academic honors, degrees and awards received and the most recent previous educational agency or institution attended.
Disclosure Without Consent-Statutory Exceptions
The statute provides that, under a number of circumstances, the university will disclose educational record information to other persons/entities without seeking prior consent or notice to a student or eligible parent. Such examples include but are not limited to: certain subpoenas and court orders, accrediting organizations, requests in connection with a student’s application for financial aid, certain requests from federal, state or local authorities and disclosure to other “university officials” who “have legitimate educational interests” in the information and records.
“University officials” includes the officers and directors of the university, all members of the administration, faculty, staff, persons serving on conduct, promotion and academic boards and committees and any professional providing assistance to the university (such as lawyers, accountants, law enforcement personnel, medical personnel).
The university has determined that there are certain persons who have the right to review a student’s educational records and personally identifiable information in every case: officers of the university and the deans. Other university personnel will have access to educational records and personally identifiable information in circumstances where the dean of student affairs, or his or her designee, concludes based upon the information available to her or him at the time of the decision, that the disclosure of the records and/or information will assist the university in making decisions concerning a student’s academic status or standing at the university or the health, safety or well-being of a student or other members of the university community.
The dean of student affairs or his or her designee reserves the right to contact parents of a dependent student when it has been determined that the student’s success is at risk.
Complaint Procedure
Students have the right to file a complaint with the Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, D.C. 20202 concerning any alleged failure on the part of Bentley to comply with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.
Bentley University Policy Amendments
The trustees reserve the right to modify or amend curricula and to change or modify aspects of university operations, as well as the right to increase tuition and other charges, without notice. Policies and regulations may be amended from time to time by action of the responsible bodies.
Affidavits of Voter Registration Forms
Affidavits of voter registration forms for Massachusetts residents are available in the Registrar’s Office in the Rauch Building. Students who wish to register in another state may not use these forms.
Out-of-state students who wish to vote in their home state must use a mail-in form supplied by the home state or the federal mail-in affidavit of voter registration, which may be obtained by writing or calling the Massachusetts Elections Division, One Ashburton Place, Room 1705, Boston, MA 02108; telephone 617.727.2828 or toll-free 800.462.8683 (in Massachusetts only). You can also get this online https://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/.