FERPA

FERPA:

All students are required to answer the FERPA question on Common Application. You only get to answer this question ONCE! Once you have answered it you can't take to back our change it! So please make sure that you have read this and have understood. If you have any questions or concerns please talk with Ms. Borgerding.

Things you need to know before you answer this question:

  1. FERPA is an acronym for a law regarding your rights to access your academic documents and file. In University applications it is specifically referring to your right to see all documents related to that application ONLY after you have been accepted to a University. (In other words: If you get denied application then you do not have the legal right to see these documents.)

  2. You need to decide if you will withhold this right or wave this right. To withhold it means that you DO WANT to see your letters of recommendation after you are accepted, and wave that right means that you are saying that you DO NOT want to see the letters, and that they will remain confidential.

  3. If you withhold your right your teachers and the University will be informed. Teachers will write their letters knowing this and Universities therefor do not give the letters the same weight that they would if they were confidential.

  4. The decision is up to you, and if you have any questions or concerns please see Ms. Borgerding.

  5. You only get to answer this question ONCE! Once you have answered it you can't take to back our change it!

  6. This one answer will be for ALL of your Common Applications, and your responce will be seen in your Bridge U Account for your advisor and letter of recommendation writers.


Accessing FERPA in Common Application:

Open your Common Application Account and look on your My Colleges Tab.

Click on any of your chosen applications and you should see FERPA listed on the left hand side.


It will then ask you to Complete Release Authorization. This is information for you so that you understand what the FERPA is and by clicking the box at the bottom you are saying that you understand this information.

Please Read This Carefully!!!!

If you have questions please ask Ms. Borgerding!

Once you have clicked that you understand you are asked to give TISA permission to send your official academic documents like your TISA Transcript to Universities.

Then you will be asked to complete the FERPA by choosing to wave or not to wave your right to see your letter of recommendation and signing that statment. Please see the image below and note that to WAVE your right means that you are ok with keeping your Letters of Recommendation Confidential - can't see them. If you answer the second one. I DO NOT wave my right it means that your Universities and teachers will be informed that the Letter of Recommendation is not confidential. Please make sure that you understand this and ask Ms. Borgerding any questions if you do not.