Release of Educational Records

The University will release a student’s educational record(s) upon the student’s written request. The student must:

1. 1. Specify the records to be disclosed.
2. 2. Include the purpose or purposes of the disclosure.
3. 3. State the party or parties and the address to whom the information is to be disclosed.

The student shall, upon request, receive a copy of the record that is to be disclosed. It is University policy to furnish single copies of a student’s record at no charge except for the standard transcript fee, if applicable.

The University may release students’ educational records to the following without prior written consent:

1. University officials who have a legitimate educational interest in the records. University officials are defined as teachers, administrative personnel and other employees except personnel of the security or law enforcement unit of Mississippi State University who in the performance of their normal duties require access to student records. If University officials are required in the performance of their duties to review the educational records of a student, this will be considered to be a legitimate educational interest.
2. Officials of another school in which the student seeks or intends to enroll upon request of the transfer school.
3. Government representatives of the Comptroller General of the United States, the Secretary of Education, the U.S. Commissioner of Education, the Director of the National Institute of Education, the Assistant Secretary for Education, State educational authorities, and State officials to whom such information is specifically required to be reported or disclosed by State law adopted prior to November 19, 1974.
4. Appropriate authorities in connection with financial aid with the understanding that only the necessary records will be released.
5. To organizations conducting studies for, or on behalf of, the University or its agencies for the purpose of developing, validating, or administering predictive tests, administering student aid programs, and improving instruction and student life provided that the studies will not permit the personal identification of students and their parents by individuals other than representatives of the organization and provided that the personally identifiable information furnished will be destroyed when no longer needed for the purposes for which the study was conducted.
6. To accrediting organizations to carry out their accrediting functions.
7. To parents of a dependent student as defined in section 152 of the Internal Revenue code of 1986. University officials may release educational records to parents on the basis of written certification from the parent that the student is a dependent as defined under the Code.
8. To comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena with the understanding that the student will be notified in advance insofar as possible.
9. To appropriate parties to protect the health and safety of the student or other individuals in emergencies with the understanding that only information essential to the emergency situation will be released, that information will only be released to a party who would be in a position to deal with the emergency, and that the student will be notified insofar as possible of the information released, the purpose for the release, and to whom the information was released.

No personal information on a student will be released without a statement from the University to the party receiving the information that no third party is to have access to such information without the written consent of the student.

This policy is adopted pursuant to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, as amended (20 U.S.C. §1232g), and is not intended to impose any restrictions or grant any rights not specifically required by this Act.

(See AOP 30.02)