STUDENTS
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. Once you enroll at Villanova University, FERPA rights belong to you, the student, regardless of age or financial dependency.
As a Villanova student, you have the right to:
- Inspect and review your education records maintained by the University
- Request corrections to records you believe are inaccurate or misleading
- Control disclosure of personally identifiable information from your records
- File a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education if you believe your FERPA rights have been violated
To help protect your privacy:
- Do not share your Villanova login credentials or passwords
- Use University systems to manage FERPA consent and privacy settings
- Review your academic records regularly for accuracy
- Be cautious when sharing academic or personal information
Education records are records that:
- Contain information directly related to you, and
- Are maintained by Villanova University or a party acting on its behalf
Examples include:
- Grades and transcripts
- Course registration and class schedules
- Academic standing and degree progress
- Advising records
- Disciplinary records
Certain records are not considered education records under FERPA, such as:
- Sole‑possession notes kept by faculty or staff and not shared
- Campus law enforcement records
- Medical and counseling records
- Employment records unrelated to student status
Villanova does not release non‑directory education record information without your written consent. This includes sharing information with:
- Parents, guardians, spouses or other family members
- Employers
- Third parties
This applies even if a parent or guardian pays tuition or claims you as a dependent.
FERPA does allow limited exceptions, including disclosures:
- In connection with federal financial aid
- In a health or safety emergency
- As otherwise permitted or required by law
Villanova designates certain information as directory information, which may be released without prior consent unless you choose to restrict it.
Directory information may include items such as:
- Name
- Major or field of study
- Enrollment status
- Dates of attendance
- Degrees awarded
You have the right to restrict the release of your directory information by completing the Confidentiality Request form available on the registrar website. Please note that this will prevent your name from being displayed in a yearly Commencement Program, Dean’s lists, class lists and other public directories.
If you want parents, spouses, family members or others to have access to specific information, you must complete the proxy process. Additional information and instructions are available here:
You may update or revoke access at any time.
Students who are employed at Villanova University may have access to student education records of other students at the University. Like all University faculty and staff, student employees are required to maintain the confidentiality and privacy of all such records during and after their employment.
For questions about FERPA, your education records or privacy rights, contact the University Ethics and Compliance Office.