FERPA

The Federal Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), as amended, prohibits the Office of the University Registrar from sharing information about students with other individuals unless the University has certified proof that the individual inquiring on your behalf is your legal guardian or that you are financially dependent upon that individual.

The Office of the University Registrar will not release academic information over the phone or electronically, not even to parents/legal guardians whose dependents have signed the Waiver To Release Educational Records. We do not have a mechanism to verify one's identity over the phone or electronically. As an authorized recipient of a student's academic information, you must be present in our office with a valid identification and have the appropriate forms signed to acquire grades or any other academic information for a student. The same rules also apply to any third party.

We recognize that this limitation may occasionally inconvenience a student, a student's family, and other interested parties, but we are bound by law to protect our students' rights to privacy.

Note: The Family Policy Compliance Office of the U.S. Department of Education has jurisdiction over the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. Students may restrict further access to their records, such as "directory information." See the Notification of Rights Under FERPA document and the online printable Non-Disclosure of Directory Information form listed in the FERPA Resources section of this page. View the policies for Student Educational Records: Policy AC 04    Procedure AC 04.

Privacy of Student Records (Buckley Amendment)

On November 19, 1974, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (commonly referred to as the Buckley Amendment), enacted as part of the Educational Amendments Act (P.L. 93-380), took effect. The Buckley Amendment's stated purpose is to protect the educational interests, rights of privacy, and confidentiality of students and their parents. As applied to law schools and other post-secondary educational institutions, the rights of the students are normally protected.

The School of Law policy has always been to release personal or academic information only upon request by the student or graduate.

Federal law prohibits the release of any information by the Law School concerning a student unless notice of the intent to release such information is first given to the student. It is the policy of the Law School to release only the following information regarding students: (1) the student's name; (2) address; (3) date and place of birth; (4) participation in officially recognized activities; (5) dates of attendance; (6) degrees and awards received; and (5) the most recent previous educational institution attended by the student.

Should any student desire that this information not be released, a written request should be made by the student and filed with the Vice Dean.

The Registrar receives requests for scholastic information from time to time. The Registrar will release such information once the student has supplied a written letter authorizing the Registrar to release the information.

FERPA FAQs

  • The right to inspect and review their education records 
  • The right to request changes to their education records
  • The right to provide written consent before Pitt discloses personally identifiable information (PII) from the student's education records
  • The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by Pitt to comply with the requirements of FERPA

Education records are directly related to a student and maintained by the University or a party acting for or on behalf of the University. These records include but are not limited to grades, transcripts, class rosters, student course schedules, student financial information, and student discipline files. The information may be recorded in any way, including, but not limited to, print, computer media, videotape, audiotape, and e-mail.

  • To school officials with legitimate educational interests
  • To officials of another school in which a student seeks or intends to enroll
  • To process financial aid for which the student has applied or which the student has received
  • To educational organizations conducting studies for or on behalf of Pitt to improve or evaluate instruction or educational programs
  • To parents of an eligible student if the student is a dependent for IRS tax purposes
  • To comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena
  • To appropriate officials in connection with a health or safety emergency

The rights under FERPA transfer from the parents to the student once the student turns 18 or enters a postsecondary institution at any age. However, although the rights under FERPA have now transferred to the student, a school may disclose information from a student’s education records to the student's parents without the student’s consent if the student is a dependent for tax purposes. Neither the student's age nor the parent's status as a custodial parent is relevant. If a student is claimed as a dependent by either parent for tax purposes, then either parent may have access under this provision.

FERPA Resources

NOTE:  Non-disclosures of Directory Information and Waivers to Release Educational Records can be submitted to registration@registrar.pitt.edu. In order to be accepted, these must be submitted from a student's Pitt e-mail address or be submitted with a copy of photo ID if the individual no longer has access to their Pitt e-mail account.