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FERPA Annual Notification

FERPA Notice of Student Rights and Responsibilities


The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords eligible students certain rights with respect to their education records. (An “eligible student” under FERPA is a student who is 18 years of age or older or who attends a postsecondary institution at any age.) These rights include:

  1. The right to inspect and review the student's education records within 45 days after the day Missouri Southern, Office of the Registrar receives a request for access. A student should submit to the Registrar a written request that identifies the record(s) the student wishes to inspect. The Registrar will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. 

  2. The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the student believes is inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy rights under FERPA.

    A student who wishes to ask Missouri Southern to amend a record should write to the Registrar clearly identifying the part of the record the student wants changed and specify why it should be changed.

    If Missouri Southern decides not to amend the record as requested, Missouri Southern will notify the student in writing of the decision and the student’s 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.
  1. The right to provide written consent before Missouri Southern discloses personally identifiable information (PII) from the student's education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent, including disclosures to school officials with legitimate educational interests and other circumstances set forth below.

  2. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by Missouri Southern to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the office that administers FERPA is:

Student Privacy Policy Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue
SW Washington, DC 20202

Limitations on rights to inspect and review education records:

There are limitations to the right to review education records. For example, the institution is not required to permit students to inspect and review the following:

  • Records which do not contain educational information or do not fall into the category of educational records because of how the records are maintained.
  • Financial records of the student’s parents.
  • Confidential letters and confidential statements of recommendation placed in education records prior to 1975 if they are used as intended.
  • Confidential recommendations or receipts of honors if the student has waived the right of access to such information.
  • Documents containing information on more than one student.
  • The right to review does not include the right for obtaining copies.

All inquiries relating to FERPA, student records, and request for student educational records should be submitted to the Office of the Registrar at registrar@mssu.edu or 417-625-9389.

Faustina Abrahams, Custodian of MSSU Student Educational Records and FERPA Compliance Officer