Rights and Privacy
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
The Family Educational
Rights and Privacy Act ensures confidentiality of student educational records
and restricts disclosure to or access by third parties, except as authorized
by law. Parents of dependent students, as defined in Section 152 of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1954, are accorded full access by the University to their dependents' educational
records, with certain exceptions, and they may receive, each semester, copies
of their dependents' grade
reports from the Office of the University Registrar. The University assumes
that its undergraduate degree candidates are financially dependent unless
the parent or the student informs the University Access Officer, in the Office
of the University Registrar, that the student is financially independent.
Students may provide this notification to the Access Officer via the Financially
Independent Student form, a copy of which may be secured from the Access
Officer in the Office of the University Registrar. Students have the right
to inspect their educational records, with certain exceptions. If they believe
these records are inaccurate, they may request an amendment and, if denied,
have the right to a hearing and to place a letter of disagreement in their
file if the outcome of that hearing is negative. Students are eligible under
the Act to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education Family
Policy Compliance Office, Federal Office Building, Number 6, Room 3021, 400
Maryland Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20202, if they believe Boston University
failed to comply with the requirements of the Act.
The University's policies and procedures for implementation of this
Act are enumerated in the Notification of Student Rights Regarding Educational
Records, and copies are available to students at the Office of the University
Registrar, 881 Commonwealth Avenue, Second Floor, Boston, MA 02215.
The University does not release personally identifiable information contained
in student educational records, except as authorized by law. Boston University
has designated certain types of personally identifiable information as "directory
information." It includes the student's name, local or dorm address,
primary contact phone number and e-mail address, College of registration, degree
program and major and minor, dates of attendance, part- and full-time status,
degrees, honors and awards received, and hometown for press releases. Students
may restrict release of this information, if they wish, and this data will
not be released by the University, except as authorized by law. If you wish
to restrict the release of this information, you may do so by using the Student
Link, by completing the information on the back of the Summer Registration
Form, or by visiting the Office of the University Registrar.
Students are informed of their rights under this law by the University Registrar.
The parents of incoming freshmen and transfer students each year are informed
of their rights under this law, and how to exercise them, by the President.
The Student Activities Office (Associate Director, GSU, 775 Commonwealth Avenue)
and the Athletics Department (Director, 285 Babcock Street) may release or
publish personally identifiable information on students who participate in
officially recognized activities and sports. If students wish to restrict release
and/or publication of this information, they should contact the Student Activities
Office and the Athletics Department directly.
Equal Opportunity Policy
Boston University prohibits discrimination
against any individual on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national
origin, physical or mental disability, marital, parental, or veteran status.
This policy extends to all rights, privileges, programs, and activities, including
admissions, financial assistance, employment, housing, athletics, and educational
programs. Boston University recognizes that nondiscrimination does not ensure
that equal opportunity is a reality. Because of this, the University will continue
to implement affirmative action initiatives that promote equal opportunity
for all students, applicants, and employees. Inquiries regarding the application
of this policy should be addressed to Assistant Vice President for Human Resources,
25 Buick Street, Boston, MA 02215; 617-353-4477.
Disability Accommodation
Boston University provides reasonable
accommodations to eligible individuals with disabilities in conformance with
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and with the Americans with Disabilities
Act of 1990. Requests for disability accommodations must be made in a timely
fashion to the Office of Disability Services, 19 Deerfield Street, Boston,
MA 02215; 617-353-3658 (Voice/TTY). Students seeking accommodations must submit
appropriate medical documentation and comply with the policies and procedures
of the Office of Disability Services.
Grievance Procedures in Cases of Alleged Discrimination
University policy and federal law prohibit discrimination on the basis of
race, color, creed, religion, ethnic origin, age, sex, or disability.
When a student has reason to believe that his or her rights have been denied
by reason of discrimination on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, ethnic
origin, age, sex, or disability, he or she may file in writing a formal grievance
with the Provost. The grievance statement should be as specific as possible
regarding the action(s) that precipitated the grievance: date, place, and people
involved; efforts made to settle the matter informally; and the remedy sought.
The Provost shall forward a copy of the grievance statement to the appropriate
individuals within one week of the receipt of the statement. If a complaint
raises an academic question, the grievance statement will be forwarded to the
dean of the appropriate School or College, unless he/she is the subject of
the grievance. In such cases, the Provost will investigate the complaint. If
the complaint arises from a nonacademic unit, the grievance statement will
be forwarded to the administrative head of the unit, unless he/she is the subject
of the grievance. In such cases, the Provost will investigate the complaint.
If a student's grievance alleges discrimination on the basis of disability,
the Director of the Office of Disability Services, who is the University's
Compliance Officer for Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, will
also be provided with a copy of the grievance and will be involved in resolution
of the grievance as appropriate. The Provost, dean, or administrative head
shall investigate the matters set forth in the written grievance. In conducting
this investigation, the Provost, dean, or administrative head may forward a
copy of the grievance statement to the persons whose actions (or inactions)
are the subject of the grievance, and may request a written response to the
grievance from appropriate individuals in the University. The Provost, dean,
or administrative head may also choose to interview witnesses, to meet with
concerned parties, to receive oral or written presentations, and to make other
appropriate independent inquiry. Within forty-five (45) days of the filing
of the grievance, the Provost, dean, or administrative head will make a decision
as to the merits of the student's grievance and the appropriate resolution
of the situation. If resolution is not possible within forty-five (45) days,
the Provost, dean, or administrative head shall inform the student of the reasons
for delay.
Copies of the decision by the Provost, dean, or administrative head will be
sent to the student, the Provost (when not issued by him/her), the Director
of Disability Services where appropriate, and the President. A copy may also
be sent to the department and/or the persons whose actions (or inactions) are
subject of the grievance as appropriate. In the event that the student is not
satisfied with the resolution of the grievance, appeal may be made to the Provost
(unless the Provost has already decided the case) and, from there, to the President.
A record of all formal grievances will be kept on file in the Office of the
Vice President and Dean of Students.
A record of all grievances alleging disability discrimination will also be
kept on file in the Office of Disability Services.
