FERPA Q&A

Q: Can I send private student data to a non-university account if the student says it's ok?

A: If you are sending any private student information in the message, you need to use the umn.edu email account. This is consistent with the FERPA requirement that schools use reasonable methods to identify and authenticate the identity of a student when disclosing student education records. Because of the authentication on umn.edu accounts, plus our policy language on not sharing login credentials, we can be assured that we are communicating directly with the student when sending information to a umn.edu email account.

While students provide us with personal email accounts, we lack assurances that the account is still theirs or have kept that information up to date in our systems. However, if you are having trouble reaching a student and have sent multiple emails, it can be a good idea to send a message to a personal email address letting them know more specific details have been sent to their umn.edu account. The message to the personal email account can’t contain any private student information though.

"Email for Life" to be retired

Beginning in the spring semester 2023, the Office of Information Technology (OIT) will start to discontinue the practice of providing University of Minnesota email accounts (Email for Life) to people who are no longer actively studying or working at the University using a phased approach.

In phase one, the first group will only include students who will graduate with a degree from an undergraduate program this semester. Additional groups will be included according to a planned schedule. You can learn more details on the Email for Life to be Retired page.

Student Data Update add-on courses

Work continues on refreshing the Student Data Update Add-on training courses. An updated version of the Credit Exemptions course was released early this month. Only new users who need to enter 13-credit exemptions are required to take this course. Work is now underway on the Enrollment Appointments Add-on course.