Student Education Records policy changes

The Board of Regents policy on Student Education Records is changing as of August 1, 2021. The new language can be reviewed as part of the June Board of Regents meeting docket materials (see pages 5-7). The policy changes create a clear point in time when new students’ public/directory information becomes available. It helps us protect student information privacy and avoid problems such as phishing scams. There are two significant changes:

1. For the purposes of this policy, it adds a definition of “student” that clarifies students are those enrolled in for-credit academic courses. It also addresses the timing of when someone first becomes a student, which is the start-of-term in their first term of enrollment.
2. Students' contact information (addresses, phone numbers, and university email address) are no longer “directory information” and are in a new category called “limited directory information.” This means that the University will no longer share students’ contact information for public data requests or other third parties unless we have student consent. Students’ contact information can be shared with school officials and student groups.

To prepare for these changes, review and update your department’s practices about releasing directory information. Additionally, if your department maintains any public-facing listings of student contact information, they need to be updated to comply with the new policy.