Responsible Body: Office of the Registrar
Date of Last Review:
Privacy Rights of Students
Due to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, as amended (better known as FERPA), information contained in a student’s record may not be released or discussed with anyone except the student without the student’s written consent, except in certain limited and specific cases, which are mentioned below.
FERPA defines “education records” as “those records, files, documents and other materials which 1) contain information directly related to a student; and 2) are maintained by an educational agency or institution or by a person acting for such agency or institution.” This includes (but is not limited to) financial aid, student life, and academic information, including individual tests or assignments, grades, academic schedule information, and transcripts.
All ACU students have the opportunity to complete an Education Record Information Release form. Information may be released to persons the student has identified on the form. Forms are filed with the student’s record in the Registrar’s Office, and the information is coded in Banner. Before discussing a student’s information, a faculty member must verify Education Record Information Release by looking on SZFERPA in Banner. If a faculty member has any question about whether or not he or she can discuss such information, the faculty member should contact Wildcat Central or the Office of the Registrar.
Students may obtain their grades on my.acu.edu.
Disclosure of Student Records
In general, no personally identifiable information from a student’s education records will be disclosed without written consent from the student. This includes, but is not limited to, grade reports, academic schedule information, and transcripts. Two exceptions may, however, be made:
- Directory information will be released unless the student requests that it be withheld, as explained in the section below;
- With proper verification, records may be disclosed to parents of students financially dependent upon them as defined by Internal Revenue Code 1986, Section 152. Certain additional limited exceptions are available under FERPA. Contact Legal Services for further explanation or discussion of FERPA.
Public Notice Designating Directory Information
Abilene Christian University hereby designates student information listed below as public or “Directory Information.” The institution may disclose such information for any purpose at its discretion.
- Name, classification, major field of study, address, email address, local residence, telephone number
- Previous institutions attended, dates of attendance, full-time or part-time status, awards, honors (including Dean’s Honor Roll), degree(s) conferred (including dates), church affiliation, past and present participation in officially recognized sports and activities, physical factors (height, weight of athletes), date, and place of birth.
Currently enrolled students may withhold disclosure of “Directory Information” under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, as amended. For disclosures to be withheld, written notification must be received in the Student Life Office within twelve calendar days from the first day of registration for each long term and four days for summer terms. Forms requesting the withholding of “Directory Information” are available in the Student Life office. Abilene Christian University assumes that failure on the part of any student to specifically request the withholding of categories of “Directory Information” indicates individual approval for disclosure.
Non-Discrimination Notice
Abilene Christian University complies with all applicable federal and state non-discrimination laws and does not engage in prohibited discrimination on the basis of race, color, nationality or ethnic origin, gender, age, or disability, including qualified veterans of the Vietnam Era. ACU is affiliated with the fellowship of the Church of Christ. The university is governed by a Board of Trustees, all of whom are members of the Church of Christ, and is operated within the Christian-oriented aims, ideals, and religious tenets of the Church of Christ. As a religiously controlled institution of higher education, ACU is exempt from compliance with some provisions of certain civil rights laws, including some provisions of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. Inquiries concerning this notice or the application of the laws referenced herein should be referred to the Legal Services office:
Slade Sullivan, General Counsel
ACU Box 29125
Abilene, TX 79699-9125
Phone: 325-674-2485
Fax: 325-674-2879
Email: legalservices@acu.edu
Access to Student Records
Educational Record information (including financial aid, student life, and academic information) concerning ACU students is confidential. Any access or modifications that are made to a student’s record, via the web or the online administrative system, should be only those that the faculty member is authorized to make in his or her role as faculty or advisor. Much of the information to which faculty members have access in their departments/schools concerning ACU students, staff, administration, or faculty is confidential. Violation of confidentiality will be regarded as a serious offense and could be cause for termination. Faculty members should read and understand the information regarding the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) at https://www.acu.edu/office-of-the-registrar/ferpa/. For more information, contact the Registrar.