Home / Registrar’s Office / Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

Students Right to Know 

Each year Bluefield State is required to give notice of the various rights accorded to parents and students pursuant to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

In accordance with FERPA, you are notified of the following:

  1. Right to inspect: You have the right to review and inspect substantially all of your education records maintained by Bluefield State University.
  2. Right to prevent disclosures: You have the right to prevent disclosure of education records to third parties, with certain limited exceptions. It is the intent of this institution to limit disclosure of information contained in your education records to those instances when prior written consent has been given to the disclosure, as an item of directory information which you have not refused to permit disclosure, or under the provisions of FERPA which allow disclosure without prior written consent.
  3. Right to request amendment: You have the right to seek to have corrected any parts of an education record which you believe to be inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of your rights. This includes the right to a hearing to present evidence that the record should be changed if Bluefield State University decides not to alter the education records according to your request.
  4. Right to complain to a FERPA office: You have the right to file a complaint with the Family Policy and Regulations Office, Department of Education, Room 1087, FB-6, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20202-4605, concerning this institution’s failure to comply with FERPA; phone (202) 732-2057.
  5. Right to obtain policy: You have the right to obtain a copy of the written institutional policy adopted by Bluefield State University in compliance with FERPA. A copy may be obtained in person or by mail from the Vice President of Student Affairs, Bluefield State University, 219 Rock Street, Bluefield, WV 24701; phone (304) 327-4567. 

Notice of Designation of Directory Information

Bluefield State has designated certain information contained in the education records of its students as directory information for purposes of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

The following information regarding students is considered directory information: (1) name, (2) address, (3) telephone number, (4) major field of study, (5) educational level and/or credits earned (6) participation in officially recognized activities and sports, (7) weight and height of members of athletic teams, (8) dates of attendance, (9) degrees and awards received, (10) the most recent previous educational agency or institution attended by the student, and (11) a photograph.

Directory information may be disclosed by this institution for any purpose in its discretion, without the consent of a parent of a student or an eligible student. Parents of students and eligible students have the right, however, to refuse to permit the designation of any or all of the above information as directory information. In that case, this information will not be disclosed except with the consent of a parent or student, or as otherwise allowed by FERPA.

Any parent or student refusing to have any or all of the designated directory information disclosed must file written notification to this effect with this institution at the Registrar’s Office, Conley Hall, on or before the last day of regular registration each semester. Forms for this purpose are available at that office.

In the event a refusal is not filed, this institution assumes that neither a parent of a student or eligible student objects to the release of designated directory information.

For additional information, contact the Registrar’s Office.