Board of Regents Policy: Student Records Changes

Board of Regents Policy: Student Education Records was adopted in 1991 and last amended in June 2021. This policy sets forth the University’s implementation of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), including what student information can be released to the public as “directory information” and what student information can be more narrowly shared as “limited directory information.” The limited directory information category includes “student’s physical addresses, University email address, telephone numbers, and University ID photos.” Directory information can be shared only with student groups and University officials without a student’s written consent.

In the most recent legislative session, the Minnesota State Legislature passed a bill including provisions to facilitate student voter registration. It requires that colleges and universities share student address information with county auditors prior to elections, to the extent permitted by FERPA. The statute includes deadlines for the sharing of this information based on election day.

The University of Minnesota supports the effort to facilitate voter registration. However, in order to provide the information to county auditors the requested student address information, the Student Education Records policy needs a minor edit to include limited directory information being available to county auditors for the purposes of voter registration. 

Several groups have reviewed this policy edit, including campus vice chancellors, the registrar’s offices from each campus, and student affairs offices on each campus. Campuses have committed to consulting with their student government leaders, and this consultation will be concluded prior to the October meeting.