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Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), also known as the Buckley Amendment, afford students and alumni certain rights with respect to their education records. These rights include:

  • The right to inspect and review the student's education records within 45 days of the day the university receives a request for access. Students should submit to the Office of the University Registrar written requests that identify the record(s) they wish to inspect. The Registrar's office will arrange for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected.
  • The right to request the amendment of the student's education records that the student believes is inaccurate or misleading. Students who believe that their education records contain information that is inaccurate or misleading, or is otherwise in violation of their privacy or other rights, may discuss their problems informally with the University Registrar. If the decision is in agreement with the students' requests, the appropriate records will be amended. If not, the students will be notified within a reasonable period of time that the records will not be amended and will be informed by the Office of the University Registrar of their right to a formal hearing. 
  • 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 that permits disclosure without consent is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the university 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 university has contracted (such as an attorney, auditor, collection agent, loan servicing agent, or the National Student Clearinghouse); 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 a school official in performing his or her tasks. A school official has a legitimate education interest if the school official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility. Upon request, the university may disclose educational records, without consent, to officials of another school in which a student seeks or intends to enroll or is already enrolled so long as the disclosure is for purposes related to the student’s enrollment and transfer.
  • The right to file a complaint with the Family Policy Compliance Office, US Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20202-4605 concerning alleged failures by Nova Southeastern University to comply with the requirements of FERPA.
  • The right to be notified of students’ rights under FERPA annually. The Office of the University Registrar sends a FERPA notification via email to all students each fall.

Nova Southeastern University hereby designates the following student information as public or "Directory Information." Such information may be disclosed by the institution for any purpose, at its discretion. Please know, however, that Nova Southeastern University's directory information policy is to never release this information to any third-party vendors.

Disclosed information may include:

  • Student name
  • Local and home address
  • Telephone numbers
  • Photo ID 
  • Photographs and videorecordings taken in public places
  • Major field of study
  • Participation in Sports
  • Place of birth
  • Dates of attendance
  • Degrees, Honors and awards received
  • Enrollment Status
  • Year in School
  • Anticipated Graduation Date
  • Email addresses

Release of Student Information

FERPA protects your student data, but controlled sharing can be tricky. That's where the Release of Information consent form steps in. This online portal lets you choose who may gain access to your education record. Grant access for grades, tuition, financial aid, medical needs, or authorized inquiries, all while keeping unauthorized eyes out. Also remember that the university is under no obligation to release information to others you authorize, unless required by law.

Learn more about Release of Information

Request to Prevent Disclosure of Directory Information

Students may also withhold directory information (as defined above) by submitting a completed Request to Prevent Disclosure of Directory Information form.

Students must recognize that prior to making the decision to withhold directory information, undesirable consequences may occur. These could include: the student's name not published on the Dean's List, name not listed in the commencement program, requests denied from prospective employers, and the student cannot be communicated with over the telephone. The only legal means of communicating with a student who submitted a Request to Prevent Disclosure of Directory Information form is in person or through NSU email.

Completed forms may be mailed to Nova Southeastern University, Office of the University Registrar, 3300 S. University Drive, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 33328-2004, dropped off at a One-Stop Shop location in the Horvitz or Terry Administration Buildings, or scanned and emailed to nsuregistrar@nova.edu. 

Deceased Student Records

Records of deceased students will be made available to the parent(s), spouse, or executor/executrix of the deceased student and other authorized parties upon written request. The request must include the need for the records; must identify the requestor's relationship to the deceased student; and must be accompanied with an official record certifying authorization to receive the student records (i.e., assignment as executor/executrix). An official copy of the death certificate must accompany the request, if the university does not have prior notice of the student's death. The university reserves the right to deny the request.

For further assistance on this matter, students should contact the Office of the University Registrar's Office.

At NSU, the above FERPA rights are afforded to both current students as well as alumni.

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