Privacy & Confidentiality

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) protects the privacy of students’ educational records and personal information. FERPA governs the release of and access to student education records.

Student Care and Advocacy follows the University’s strict commitment to adhering to FERPA. Our office will not release any confidential information about a student except in rare circumstances, such as when a student's health or safety is at risk.

To better understand FERPA, view the FERPA tutorial on the Penn State Registrar website.

Health and Safety FERPA Exception

When the health and safety of a student is in question, Penn State may deem it necessary to disclose information from a student’s record without their consent. In such circumstances, information can be released to any person(s) whose knowledge of the situation is necessary to maintain the safety of the student or others who may be impacted.