FERPA

FERPA - FAMILY EDUCATIONAL RIGHTS AND PRIVACY ACT

Annual Notice

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, commonly known as the Buckley Amendment, is a federal law that states an educational institution must maintain the confidentiality of education records.

Luther Seminary shares the responsibility for ensuring the security and privacy of the records and data maintained. This includes requiring the written student signature for the release of data, including transcripts and verifications of enrollment.

The Office of the Registrar is responsible for administering the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) at Luther Seminary. Annually, Luther Seminary informs students of their rights under FERPA and the regulations relating to FERPA.

FERPA affords students certain rights with respect to their education records. These rights include:

  1. The right to inspect and review the students' education records within 45 days of receipt of a request for access. Students should submit a written request to the Office of the Registrar.
     
  2. The right to request amendment of the student's education records that the student believes is inaccurate or misleading. Students should submit a written request to the Office of the Registrar, clearly identifying the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. The student will be notified of the decision.
     

  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.

    Upon request, Luther Seminary will disclose education records without consent, when a school official has a legitimate educational interest to review records in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility. A school official is a person employed by Luther Seminary in an administrative, supervisory, academic or research, or support staff position; a personal or company with whom the seminary has contracted (such as an attorney or auditor); a student serving on an official committee or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks.

    Upon request, Luther Seminary discloses education records without consent to officials of another school in which a student seeks or intends to enroll.
     

  4. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by Luther Seminary to comply with the requirements of FERPA.

For more information, please visit the FERPA website - https://studentprivacy.ed.gov/resources/ferpa-general-guidance-students

Notice Designating Directory Information

This official notice regarding Directory Information refers to detailed information held by and released by the Office of the Registrar when there is valid need.  Most of the time, when you hear the word Directory on campus, it refers to the Luther Seminary Directory which refers to the on-line directory on MyLutherNet.  It contains photos, mailing address, phone number, degree program and email address for students and office location, office telephone and email address for faculty and staff.

Student information contained in an education record that generally would not be considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if disclosed is identified as directory information. 

Directory information contained in seminary records is released upon request at the discretion of Luther Seminary and only for official business related to the educational process.

Luther Seminary hereby designates the following categories of student information as directory information to be released upon request without student consent, unless we are notified otherwise from the individual student.

  • Name
  • Address
  • Advisor
  • Student Status
  • Phone
  • Email address
  • Academic Standing
  • Degree Program/Area of Study
  • Degrees and Awards Received
  • Thesis Title
  • Dissertation Title
  • Dates of Enrollment
  • Enrollment Status
  • Prior Schools attended & Degrees Conferred
  • Citizenship
  • Photographs

Students may refuse disclosure of directory information by informing the Office of the Registrar in writing. A hold on releasing specific information will remain in effect until the student files a specific request to remove it. If a student does not specifically request the withholding of directory information, Luther Seminary assumes that the student approves of the disclosure of such information.

Luther Seminary cooperates with students and judicatories of all denominations in providing appropriate information for their candidacy process.

For students participating in the ELCA candidacy process, information and recommendations pertaining to academic standing and progress through the degree program and candidacy process are shared with synodical staff and candidacy committees as called for by candidacy partnerships.