Provisions of FERPA allow the institution to define directory information, that is, information that is public. St. Olaf College determines that the following student information is directory information:
- name
- local and permanent mailing addresses
- local telephone numbers
- e-mail address
- dates of attendance
- registration status
- class
- major field of study
- awards, honors
- degree(s) conferred
- past and present participation in officially recognized sports and activities
- physical characteristics (height/weight) of athletes
- prior schools attended
- Month, day, and place of birth.
Students May Request Nondisclosure of Directory Information
Enrolled students may withhold disclosure of directory information under FERPA. Suppressing directory information means:
- Your name will not appear in the St. Olaf Directory and the Switchboard will not give it out.
- We will not acknowledge that you are a student at St. Olaf to anyone.
Students may choose to suppress their directory information by informing the Residence Life office in writing. The information will not be printed in the St. Olaf Directory ONLY IF the request is received in writing by July 15th. If the request is received after that date, the student's name will appear in the directory, but administrative offices will not acknowledge her/his presence if called.
Please remember that if you choose suppression, this means that we cannot acknowledge that you are a student on campus to anyone including employers, financial aid agencies, and graduate schools.
NOTE: If you choose suppression, your information will be withheld forever or until you inform the Residence Life office in writing that you wish to have the restriction removed. Suppression prevents us from being able to tell future employers or graduate schools that you were a student on campus.
Students' Rights After Ceasing Attendance or Graduating
Students who have ceased attendance or have graduated from an institution of higher education have basically the same FERPA rights as students currently attending the St. Olaf College, including the right to:
- inspect their education records
- have a hearing to amend an education record, and
- have their education privacy protected by the institution.
- Once a student leaves St. Olaf College he/she does not have the right to request privacy of Directory Information. This must be requested before one leaves St. Olaf. (St. Olaf can choose to allow this. It is not assured under FERPA)
