Records Maintenance

The Seattle School complies with the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974 concerning privacy and disclosure of a student’s permanent educational record. Under FERPA, students are protected against improper disclosure of their records. This law affords students certain rights with respect to their educational records as follows:

• To inspect and review the student’s educational records within 45 days of the day the graduate school receives a request for access. 

• To request the amendment of a student’s educational records that the student believes are inaccurate or misleading. 

• The right to a hearing if the request to correct an alleged inaccuracy is denied. 

• The right to consent to certain disclosures of information. The Seattle School policy is to confirm only dates of attendance, areas of study, and degrees/certificates earned unless the student signs a release form authorizing disclosure of additional information. 

• To file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by The Seattle School to comply with the requirements of FERPA. 

• FERPA applies to students upon matriculation at The Seattle School; matriculation occurs on the first day of the first term that a student is enrolled for graduate credit classes. 

• Students may request a hard-copy version of the FERPA statement from the Academics Office. 

The Seattle School designates the following items as Directory Information: student name, spouse name, address(es), telephone number(s), email address, photograph, enrollment status, date of birth, graduate degree study (degree/certificate program), participation in officially recognized activities, dates of attendance, degrees and awards received, most recent and previous educational institution attended by the student. It is institutional practice to use only the following information for the Student Directory: student name, address, telephone, email address and picture.

Annual notice is provided to students regarding the personally identifiable information that the institution utilizes for the Student Directory. If a student wishes to prohibit this information from being disclosed in the Student Directory, a nondisclosure form must be submitted to the Academic Office within 14 days after the start of the term.

Students may withhold free disclosure of Directory Information (on an all or nothing basis) to non-institutional persons or organizations. A student maintains the option to protect their privacy and not have such information as addresses and telephone numbers released. Forms requesting the withholding of this information are available in the Academic Office. Otherwise, the institution assumes the approval of disclosure of directory information. Students must complete the form by the end of the second week of their entering term if they do not want directory information to be included in the Student Directory. Aside from the specific deadline that relates to the Student Directory in the fall, requests for non-disclosure may be filed anytime, but cannot be effective until received by the Academic Office. Requests will be honored until revoked by the student.

In order to request access to records and/or to request an amendment, please contact the Registrar's Office.

The Academic & Student Financial Services Offices retain a variety of records pertinent to the academic progress and financial records of students. These records are available to faculty and staff as authorized and who have legitimate educational interest in the student. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill their professional responsibility and/or to conduct educational or institutional effectiveness research. This may include support staff positions, members of the Board of Trustees or a student serving on an official committee or assisting another school official in performing their professional responsibilities for The Seattle School. Education records are released to other individuals or agencies only with the student's written authorization. 

The Seattle School students and alumni are entitled to receive transcripts of their completed course work. Upon receipt of a signed Transcript Request Form and receipt of the transcript request fee via the National Student Clearinghouse, the Registrar’s Office will issue an official transcript to appropriate institutions or individuals. Transcripts will not be issued for students who have financial obligations and/or for those who have not completed their debt counseling obligation if they received federal student loan assistance while at The Seattle School. Transcripts from other institutions submitted to The Seattle School for admission or transfer credit evaluation will not be photocopied or forwarded elsewhere.