FERPA: Are students allowed to access other students' educational record information?

Two of the principle tenets of FERPA are: school officials and legitimate need to know.

At the U of MN, school official is defined in the Board of Regents policy on Education Records. Specifically, school official shall mean a person employed by the University in an administrative, supervisory, academic, research or support staff position (including law enforcement unit personnel and health staff); a person or company with whom the University has contracted to perform an institutional service or function in accordance with law; a person serving on the Board of Regents; or a student serving on a University committee or otherwise assisting another school official in performing institutional tasks.

Legitimate educational interest is defined as: an interest in reviewing student education records for the purpose of performing an appropriate University research, educational or administrative function. 

So, based on these two criteria If students are serving in a capacity as a school official and their position requires access to student educational records, it's perfectly acceptable for them to access it. 

Just like with non-student staff, these individuals must compete FERPA training and it's very important for them to understand that they should not discuss the materials with which they are working.

If you have any questions about this or other FERPA related matters, please contact Tina Falkner at rovic001@umn.edu or Dan Delaney at delan021@umn.edu.