FERPA Consent to Release

What It Is

FERPA consent to release allows a parent or authorized third party to contact the university on behalf of the student to discuss or request educational or financial records.

Students establish consent through Buff Portal and create a unique authorization phrase for each individual or organization for use in confirming their identity. Students also specify which types of records they're authorizing access to:

  • All Education Records includes any and all academic, financial and personal information
  • Academic Record Only includes, but is not limited to, GPA, grades, degree progress, academic standing, academic holds, class schedule, transcript requests, and academic advising records
  • Financial Record Only includes, but is not limited to, financial aid (limited per Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999), account (billing/payments), financial holds, tuition classification, and COF records

Student-Facing Information 

Verifying FERPA Consent

Before disclosing any FERPA-protected information to a third party, university faculty and staff must confirm the third party's name and authorization phrase.

Note: If you're asked for information about a student on full privacy (indicated by a red "private" label in Campus Solutions) and your answer to step 2, 3 or 4 below is "no," you must tell the requester, "Due to data privacy policies, we are unable to respond to your request."

Using Campus Solutions

  1. On 's ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ Resources tab, navigate to the Campus Solutions tile:
    1. Click the "¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ Resources Home" drop-down in the center of the top navigation bar.
    2. Select "Student Systems."
    3. Click the "Campus Solutions" tile.
  2. Next, navigate to the "Bio/Demo Student Info" tile:
    1. Click the "Resources for Schools/Colleges" tile.
    2. Click the "Bio/Demo Student Info" tile.
  3. View the student's FERPA consent to release information:
    1. Select "Review FERPA Display" in the left navigation bar.
    2. Click the "FERPA Consent to Release" tab.

Using My¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵInfo's Teaching Tools Tab

  1. On 's Teaching Tools tab, click "Go to Faculty Center."
  2. If the wrong term is selected, click "Change Term."
  3. Click the class roster icon next to the class the student is enrolled in.
  4. Click the FERPA windowshade icon next to the student's name.
  5. If the student has established FERPA consent to release for any third parties, that information will appear in the FERPA panel.

Has the student has provided authorization for this individual?

  • If yes, continue to step 3.
  • If no, you may not release any FERPA-protected information to this individual.

Note: Campus Solutions displays one authorization per page. If there are multiple pages, use the arrows to move among them (see screenshot below).

A screenshot from Campus Solutions of the buttons used to navigate among FERPA authorizations. In this screenshot, the label specifies "1 of 6". The roll-over text on the navigation buttons are labeled "Show previous row" and "Show next row".

 

Is there an authorization phrase listed and a "current" row in the "Release Audit Information" table?

  • If yes, continue to step 4.
A screenshot from Campus Solutions of an active FERPA consent to release authorization. The authorization phrase field is populated, and the "Status" field is labeled "Active".
  • If no, you may not release any FERPA-protected information to this individual. 
A screenshot from Campus Solutions of an inactive FERPA consent to release authorization. The authorization phrase field is not displayed, and the "Status" field is labeled "Inactive".

Identify which of the three authorization checkboxes is ticked in Campus Solutions. Based on the definitions at the top of this webpage, did the student authorize access to the specific information this individual is requesting?

  • If yes, you may release the requested information.
  • If no, you may not release the requested FERPA-protected information to this individual.

Frequently Asked Questions

Explain the difference or direct them to our Third-Party Access page for details. Do not release FERPA-protected information unless there is a FERPA consent on file. You may suggest that they ask their student to authorize FERPA consent to release for them.

Only release the information listed above the audit when viewing a student’s FERPA consent to release. This will include academic records, financial records, or all (including both academic and financial).

Only when a parent or authorized third party provides their name and/or organization title and the password established by the student.

Either one; this may be a duplication issue in Campus Solutions, but the information is the same across records, including FERPA consent.

It means that the student has revoked consent; you should also see a red "Inactive" status label. Do not release any FERPA-protected information.

Yes, a student can have full-privacy status and also set up a FERPA consent to release.

FERPA allows for educational privacy at the same time that it allows for the release of information on a student's behalf if the student has granted consent. If a student is on full privacy, the parent must notify the ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ administrator that consent exists on the student's record.

Without verifying a student's identity, ask the requester for three pieces of information right away: the student's ID number, the requester's name and the requester's authorization passphrase.

  • If all of the information is correct and the student has authorized access to the information type requested (see step-by-step instructions above), you may disclose the requested information.
  • If you cannot confirm the requester's identity or authorization (i.e., if your answer to step 2, 3 or 4 above is "no"), you must say, "Due to data privacy policies, we are unable to respond to your request." If they insist that they've been granted access, you can refer them to the Office of the Registrar.

The student must give permission via a FERPA consent to release before parents can be in the room when discussing protected student information.

Contact Us

   registrar@colorado.edu
   303-492-6970

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