Parents and Family

FERPA Information

FERPA provides students certain rights with respect to their education records. These rights include:

The right to inspect and review the student's education records within 45 days of the day the University receives a request for access. Students should submit to the registrar, dean, head of the academic department, or other appropriate official, written requests that identify the record(s) they wish to inspect. The University official will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. If the records are not maintained by the University official to whom the request was submitted, that official shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed.

The right to request the amendment of the student's education records that the student believes is inaccurate or misleading or otherwise in violation of the student's privacy rights under FERPA. Students may ask the University to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading. They should write the University official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. If the University decides not to amend the record as requested by the student the University will notify the student in writing of the decision and advise the student of his or her right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the student when notified of the right to a hearing.

The right to provide written consent before the University disclosures of personally identifiable information from the student's education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. The University discloses education records without a student's prior written consent under the FERPA exception for disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the University in an administrative, supervisory, academic or research, or support staff position (including law enforcement unit personnel and health staff); a person or company with whom the University has contracted as its agent to provide a service instead of using University employees or officials (such as an attorney, auditor, collection agent, contract employee, or a clinical/internship facility); a person serving on the Board of Trustees; or a student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility. Upon request, the University discloses education records without consent to officials of another school in which a student seeks or intends to enroll.

The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by Ferris State University to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA is:

Family Policy Compliance Office
U. S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202-5901

Every year parents of new and returning college students are bombarded with solicitations enticing them to buy items that are “essential to your student’s success” in college, especially the residence halls. Advertisements and solicitations are misleading to suggest that colleges have “special sized” furniture or that Ferris has exclusive agreements with particular companies to provide linens, carpeting, refrigerators, lofts, etc. Please be aware that Ferris State University’s Office of Housing and Residence Life does not have any such relationships with outside vendors. Among those companies that target college students with misleading advertisements are linen companies, loft-style bed companies, and other “campus” marketing companies.

All the information you need to know concerning the size of our rooms, size of beds/mattresses, the approved specifications for lofted bed(s) and the furnishings provided by the university can be found at the Ferris State Housing website.

If you have questions concerning the authenticity of a promotion you receive please do no hesitate to contact the Office of Housing and Residence Life at 231-591-3745 or e-mail us at [email protected].