About FERPA

The College complies with the provisions of the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 and its implementing regulations (collectively, "FERPA"), as amended, which affords students certain rights with respect to their education records. The Student Handbook contains additional information on students' rights under FERPA.

The Dartmouth College FERPA policy can be found in the policy portal.

CONFIDENTIAL FLAGS

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act and its implementing regulations (collectively, FERPA) allow Dartmouth to disclose certain basic information about you, known as "Directory Information," without obtaining your permission. Directory Information includes the following: name (legal or chosen), age, date and place of birth, student ID number, dates of attendance, enrollment status, class year, degree(s) awarded and date(s), degree(s) receipt or non-reciept, major fields of study, including (if applicable) minors or areas of focus (or the equivalent), awards and honors, home address, telephone number, email address, relationship to an alum, previous educational institutions attended and degrees awarded, extracurricular activities, student photo, a student-employee's employing Dartmouth business unit, and weight and height of members of athletic teams. The Student Handbook has more information on Dartmouth's definition of Directory Information.

Please note two important details regarding placing a confidential flag on your record:

• A confidential flag applies to all elements of Directory Information in your record. Dartmouth will not apply a confidential flag to limit disclosure of only some of the information encompassed within the definition of Directory Information.
• Dartmouth frequently receives inquiries for Directory Information from a variety of sources outside the institution—including prospective employers, scholarship programs, the news media, and friends and family (including parents). Having a confidential flag on your record will preclude release (block the sharing) of such information, even to those people. This would mean, for example, that the College will not verify your enrollment or degree status to a prospective employer. In addition, if you have a confidential flag on your record, you will not appear in the College's online directory or any other directory produced by Dartmouth, and you will not be listed in the Commencement Program. Other possible consequences of a confidential flag include missed mailings, messages, and announcements for students and their family/supporters.

Once you place a confidential flag on your account, it will remain in place until you inform the Undergraduate Deans Office (UDO) in writing that you would like the flag lifted.

If you agree that Dartmouth can disclose your Directory Information, there is no need for you to take any action.

If you do not want Dartmouth to disclose Directory Information, you must fill out the Confidential Flag Form requesting a confidential flag be placed on your account. If you would like to lift a confidential flag, you must make a written request to the Undergraduate Deans Office. Your request can be emailed to undergraduate.deans.office@dartmouth.edu or mailed to Undergraduate Deans Office, Dartmouth College, 6064 Carson Hall, Suite 125, Hanover, NH 03766.

RELEASE OF INFORMATION

In some instances, students may wish to release information from their education records to a third party. If you would like the Undergraduate Deans Office to release information from the parts of your record that are maintained by the UDO, please fill out the Release of Information Authorization (which give the UDO permission to share otherwise confidential student information with third parties).

GUIDELINES FOR INSPECTION OF EDUCATION RECORDS MAINTAINED IN THE UNDERGRADUATE DEANS OFFICE

Students wishing to review the records kept in the Undergraduate Deans Office must fill out a form provided for this purpose. The form can be requested by emailing undergraduate.deans.office@dartmouth.edu. The UDO maintains all official records related to changes in enrollment status, limited admissions records (please note that no evaluative admissions materials are maintained by the UDO), and records related to conduct allegations and outcomes. If a student wishes to review other aspects of their education record, they must contact the Undergraduate Registrar at registrar@dartmouth.edu.

The requested records will be reviewed by a dean to confirm that they are subject to inspection. Requested records subject to inspection will be made available to the student within 45 days of the date of the request. Records cannot be removed from the Undergraduate Deans Office and will not be sent to or copied for the student; therefore, the requesting student must make an appointment to review the records.  Per College policy, no education record may be copied or photographed in any way during the course of the inspection.

A student does not have the right to inspect or review: (1) records that do not contain educational information or that do not otherwise constitute education records under FERPA; (2) financial records of parents, or any information contained in those records; (3) confidential letters or statements of recommendation to which the student has previously waived his/her right of access; (4) records that were created or compiled prior to November 19, 1974.