Southern Miss - Office of the Registrar

Southern Miss and FERPA Compliance Policy

The University of Southern Mississippi, consistent with the regulations of the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act as amended in 1974, insures students the right to inspect and review their educational records within 45 days from the time of the request.

In addition, the law prohibits the release of personally identifiable information without the student's permission, with the following exceptions:

To University of Southern Mississippi school officials who have a legitimate educational interest as determined by the University.
To federal, state, and local authorities involving an audit or evaluation of compliance with educational programs.
To a parent of dependent students for income tax purposes as defined by section 152 of the IRS code of 1954. A 1040 form may be appropriate.
In a health or safety emergency.
To comply with a judicial order or subpoena.
In connection with Financial Aid including Veteran benefits.
To the alleged victim of any crime or violence, as described in section 16 of title 18, United States Code.
To organizations in person or company with whom the University has contracted; individuals serving on the Institution of Higher Learning Board; students serving on an official committee; a person assisting another school official in performing his/her task.
When an individual with an education record is deceased.
Designated officials as defined by the Patriot Act of 2001.
Information deemed by the University as directory information.
The University of Southern Mississippi has designated the following items as directory information:
1. Student's Name
2. Address
3. Telephone Number
4. E-mail Address
5. Major
6. Dates of Attendance
7. Classification
8. Degree(s) Earned
9. Previous Institutions Attended
10. Class Rank
A student must request the University not to release directory information; however, you should consider the consequences of that action before making the decision to do so. If you choose to have directory information withheld, you should complete a written request provided by the Office of the Registrar located in Kennard-Washington Hall, Room 110.
The University reserves the right to deny copies of records, including transcripts, not required to be made available if student has an unpaid balance to the University.

The right to inspect and review all materials in your file(s) except items not considered an educational record as follows:

Sole possession records or private notes held by school officials.
Law enforcement or campus police security records that are solely for law enforcement purposes and maintained solely by the law enforcement unit.
Confidential letters and recommendations placed in students' files prior to January 1, 1975, provided these letters were collected under established policies of confidentiality and were used only for the purposes for which specifically collected.
Confidential letters and statements of recommendation, placed in students' records after January1, 1975, to which the student has waived his/her right to inspect and that are related to the students' admission, application for employment or job placement, or receipt of honors. Education records containing information about more than one student; however, in such cases the institution must permit access to that part of the record which pertains only to the inquiring student.
Records relating to treatment provided by a physician, psychiatrist, psychologist, or other recognized professionals or paraprofessionals and disclosed only to individuals providing treatment(s).

F.E.R.P.A. afford individuals the opportunity to challenge or amend his/her education record if inaccurate, misleading, or in violation of privacy or other rights of the student. The student may submit a written request that the record be amended. The form is available in the Office of the University Registrar, located in Kennard-Washington Hall, Room 110.

Within 60 days of receipt of the written request, the University will inform the student as to whether the record will be amended. The request should include justification for the challenge. A grade may be challenged on the grounds that it was inaccurately recorded.

If the decision is negative, the student may submit a written request for a hearing in order to challenge the content of the record(s). The hearing committee will inform the student of the date, place, and time of the hearing.

Challenges and requests for a hearing must be in writing and should be directed to the Office of the University Registrar.

School officials' responsibility regarding privacy of students' records.

A school official is a person employed by the University in an administrative, supervisory, academic or research, or support staff position; a person or company with whom the University has contracted; student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary committee or a person assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks.
It is the responsibility of each school official to understand his or her legal responsibilities under F.E.R.P.A. These include maintaining the privacy of students' grades for any course or for any activity which is part of a course.
This policy is violated if a student's grade is (1) openly mentioned in class; (2) publically posted in a personally identifiable manner such as social security number or student identification number; (3) paper, test, or projects in public view (4) released over the telephone or electronically to any person other than the student or his/her designee with written consent.
Disclosure of a student's' grades by a faculty member may be made only in a manner that makes the grades identifiable only to the faculty member and the student.
Upon completion of training, school officials will be provided documentation he/she realizes discloser of non-directory information violates F.E.R.P.A. and places the University at risk of losing Federal funding.

Individuals have the right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the college to comply with the requirements of F.E.R.P.A. The name and address of the office that administers F.E.R.P.A. is:

Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202-4605

Questions about the policies and procedures about the University's "Policy on Student Records" or about the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, should be directed to:

Attn: Greg Pierce, University Registrar
The University of Southern Mississippi
118 College Drive #5006
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001
Telephone number: 601-266-5006

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