FERPA Definitions

Permission granted by a student via the Student Link (Personal tab, Consent-to-Disclosure option) to the University to communicate with parents/guardians/others in certain limited circumstances, including the following:

• The student voluntarily withdraws or takes a leave of absence
• The student is suspended or dismissed from the University
• The student is required to leave University housing
• The permitted person has questions or concerns about the student’s financial aid or student account
• The student is placed on academic probation (a school or college official may notify parents)

Student data that, unless restricted by the student, can be released to third parties upon request, including the following:

• Academic program (degree, major, minor)
• Dates of attendance, full-time / part-time status
• Degrees, honors, and awards received
• Local address* and BU directory phone number
• School or college
• Listing in the Commencement program
• Listing in the Bostonia Yearbook

*If the University has only a home address in New England or New York, it is considered the local address.

With certain exceptions, records relating to a student that are maintained by the University.

A parent of a student and includes a natural parent (custodial and/or non-custodial), a guardian, or an individual acting as a parent in the absence of a parent or guardian.

A student’s name, the name of the student’s parent or other family member, the address of the student or the student’s family, or other information that would allow the student to be identified.

An official document provided by the Office of the University Registrar which includes the following information about a student:

• Name
• Degree program
• BU ID number
• Semester
• Start and end dates for each semester
• Course load
• Anticipated graduation semester
• Enrollment status for each semester (Full-time, Half-time, Less than Half-time)

A function on the Student Link (Personal tab, ShareLink Access option) that students can use to grant a parent or other person online access to their transcript, proof of enrollment, and Student Accounting invoice.

One who is, or has been, officially registered, and who attends, or has attended, classes at Boston University.