Curtis Institute of Music complies with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act ("FERPA") and makes public announcement of the law.

FERPA affords students certain rights with respect to their "education records" as that term is defined in the law. These rights include the following:

1. The student has the right to inspect and review his/her education records within 45 days of the date Curtis receives a proper request for access to such records.
2. The student has the right to request amendment of education records that the student believes are inaccurate or misleading.
3. Curtis shall obtain the prior consent of the student before disclosing personally identifiable information contained in the student's education records, EXCEPT to the extent FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.

Inspection and Review

Students wishing to exercise their rights to inspect and review their education records should submit a written request to the Registrar and Associate Dean of Academic Affairs. The Curtis official will make arrangement for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected.

Amendment of Records

The student should write to the registrar and associate dean of academic affairs and identify the part of the record the student wants changed and specify why the student believes the record is inaccurate or misleading. If the record custodian denies the request to amend the record, the student will be notified of the decision and advised of his or her right to a formal hearing.

Disclosure of Student Information without Prior Consent

There are a number of exceptions to the general rule prohibiting disclosure of personally identifiable information from education records without prior consent of the student. Some common exceptions used by Curtis are set forth below.

1. FERPA permits disclosure to Curtis officials with legitimate educational interest in the records being sought. A Curtis official is a person employed by Curtis in an administrative, faculty, or staff position (including health staff), or a person or company with whom Curtis has contracted (such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent). A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her job responsibilities.
2. FERPA allows Curtis to release student "directory information" without a student's consent, unless the student has requested such information be kept confidential. Curtis defines directory information as:
   • name of a student who is or has been in attendance
   • dates of attendance
   • local and other addresses and local telephone number
   • e-mail address
   • date and place of birth
   • picture
   • major field of study
   • enrollment status
   • name of parent or guardian
   • permanent (home) address
   • permanent (home) telephone number
   • current credit load
   • credit hours earned
   • degrees received
   • dates of degrees
   • previous school(s) attended
   • honors and awards
   • For more information on how to keep your directory information confidential, please contact the registrar.
3. Curtis will, upon request, disclose education records to officials of another institution of higher education at which a student seeks to enroll without obtaining the student's prior consent. Curtis will also send to other higher education institutions corrected or additional records if education records have previously been sent to that institution under this exception.
4. Students have the right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by Curtis to comply with the requirements of FERPA. Please contact the registrar for more information.