Know Your Rights – Learn More About FERPA

Columbia complies with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), as amended, by publishing an annual notice to students explaining your rights under the act in the college catalog and student handbook.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. The law applies to all schools that receive funds under an applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education.

FERPA gives parents certain rights with respect to their children’s education records. These rights transfer to the student when he or she reaches the age of 18 or attends a school beyond the high school level. Students to whom the rights have transferred are “eligible students.”