Annual Notification of Rights

A student should submit a written request to the institution official responsible for the record that identifies the record(s) the student wishes to inspect. The institution 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 school official to whom the request was submitted, that official shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed.

A student who wishes to ask TU to amend a record should write to the institution official responsible for the record to clearly identify the part of the record the student wants changed and specify why it should be changed.

If TU decides not to amend the record as requested, the institution official will notify the student in writing of the decision and the student’s 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.

TU discloses education records without a student’s prior written consent under the FERPA exception for disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests.

A school official typically includes a person employed by TU or the University System of Maryland in an administrative, supervisory, academic, research, or support staff position (including law enforcement unit personnel and health staff); a person serving on the Board of Regents; or a student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee.

A school official also may include a volunteer or contractor outside of TU who performs an institutional service of function for which TU would otherwise use its own employees and who is under the direct control of TU with respect to the use and maintenance of PII from education records, such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent or a student volunteering to assist another school official in performing his or her tasks.

A school official typically has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibilities for TU. Upon request, the university also discloses education records without consent to officials of another school in which a student seeks or intends to enroll.

FERPA also permits institutions to establish and disclose without consent a student’s directory information; however, students have the right to withhold the release of any or all categories of directory information by notifying the Registrar’s Office in writing. If this request is not submitted, directory information may be disclosed to the general public. Please note that restricting release of directory information may result in consequences such as TU being unable to verify directory information to outside entities such as insurance companies or prospective employers.

At TU, directory information is limited to: Student Legal Name; Permanent Address; Towson University Email Address; Major Field of Study; Dates of Attendance; Degrees, Awards, and Honors Conferred; Class Standing (e.g. Senior, Junior, etc.); Prior Post-Secondary Institution; Enrollment status (full-time/part-time); Participation in Officially Recognized Activities and Sports; Weight and Height of Members of Athletic Teams.

In addition to the disclosures of PII permitted to school officials with legitimate educational interests and disclosures of unrestricted directory information, FERPA also permits the disclosure of PII from students’ education records, without consent of the student, as set forth in TU Policy 03-06.30 and in § 99.31 of the FERPA regulations.

 The name and address of the office that administers FERPA is:
Student Privacy Policy Office
U.S. Department of Education 
400 Maryland Avenue, SW 
Washington, DC 20202