Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974
(FERPA)

The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA; also known as the "Buckley Amendment") and provisions of the California Education Code set out requirements designed to govern the access to, and release of, educational records, to establish the right of students to inspect and review their records, and to provide guidelines for the correction of inaccurate or misleading data through informal and formal hearings. Students also have the right to file complaints with the FERPA Office (U.S. Dept. of Education) concerning alleged failures by Biola to comply with provisions of FERPA.

In accordance with the regulations of FERPA, as amended, Biola University has adopted policies and procedures concerning implementation of FERPA on campus. Copies of the policy are available in the Office of the Registrar.

Directory Information

Certain information designated as "Directory Information" may be disclosed without the consent or knowledge of the student unless the student has notified Biola in advance that such information is not to be released. "Directory Information" at Biola is defined as:

  • Photo
  • Name
  • Address
  • Telephone listing
  • E-Mail Address
  • Date and place of birth
  • Major field of study
  • Participation in officially recognized activities and sports
  • Weight and height of members of athletic teams
  • Enrollment Status (full-time, half-time, less than half-time)
  • Student status
  • Student Level
  • Dates of attendance
  • Degrees and award received
  • The most recent previous educational agency or institution attended.

The purpose of establishing this definition of Directory Information is to notify the student of the types of personally identifiable information included with this definition of "Directory Information" and to allow the student to prevent the disclosure of this information should he or she wish to do so.

The student may request that his or her information remain confidential by specifying the desired privacy option on WebReg during each term's registration. Requests to have confidentiality either added to the student's record or taken off of the student's record during the semester may be requested via the Portal Student Information channel or in writing at the Office of the Registrar.

During final registration of WebReg currently enrolled students will have the option of requesting total confidentiality of records (no information will be released to any request with the exception of Biola University officials for Biola business only), confidentiality of phone number only (phone number information will not be released to any request with the exception of Biola University officials for Biola business only), or confidentiality of e-mail address only (e-mail address information will not be released to any request with the exception of Biola University officials for Biola business only). Requests to change student confidentiality listings may be processed during the year via the Portal Student Information channel or in writing at the Office of the Registrar.

Implications of Specifying Confidentiality to Student Records

Students requesting that their records remain confidential should be aware that no information will be given out to anyone, including immediate family members and potential employers, regarding any information about the student. Students with confidentiality are not able to obtain information concerning their own records unless they inquire in person or by writing a request which includes their signature.

Students who have requested that their information remain confidential and who withdraw or graduate from the University should be aware that their information will remain confidential and will not be released without the signature and expressed consent from that student.

Students who have requested that their information remain confidential will not be listed on any honor list, such as the Deans list or EKE, and they will not have their names printed on the graduation bulletin when they graduate. A graduating student who has requested that their information remain confidential must submit written approval to the graduation counselor if they want to have their name listed on the graduation bulletin.