FERPA for MSU Denver Parents
Now that your child is in college, the rights to access his or her educational records have been transferred directly to the student. This means that your student has sole “ownership” of his or her records.
The following links outline FERPA as it may pertain to you. If your questions are not answered below, please call the Office of the Registrar at (303) 556-3991.
How can I get a copy of my student’s educational records?
The easiest way to receive information about your student’s academic progress, tuition statement, and other educational information is to ask him or her to directly provide you with it. All MSU Denver students can access information regarding their grades, classes, and tuition bills online at ConnectU.
If your student is unable to directly provide his or her records, he or she must sign a FERPA Release (
200 KB) in the Office of the Registrar (Student Success Building, Suite 160) in order to grant you access. When filing out the your student will give us a password which you will need to provide before we can release any information.
However, if you claim your student as a dependent when filing your taxes, you can access certain parts of his or her record (e.g., grades, tuition information, etc.) without prior written consent. In order to access this information, you must come to the Office of the Registrar in person and present your most recent tax return documents.
I’m paying for my student’s tuition and fees. Why don’t I have access to his or her records?
Many MSU Denver parents try to financially assist their students in some way. Yet, all parents must either have written consent from their student, or they must provide their most recent tax form showing they claim their student as a dependent. Please see the section above for information on both options.
Now that my student has signed the FERPA Release Form, when can I expect to receive copies of his or her grades?
The FERPA Release ( 200 KB) does not serve as an automatic request for records. If you would like to access certain information, you need to contact the MSU Denver office that manages those records. If you are not sure who to contact, the Office of the Registrar (303-556-3991) will gladly assist you.
Does the FERPA Release Form grant me access to my student’s medical and counseling records?
FERPA regulations apply only to educational records, whichdo not include any medical or counseling records maintained on campus. Thus, the FERPA Release Form does not grant you access to these records.
The release of medical and counseling records is governed by other Federal regulations, campus policies, and standards for professional ethics. In most cases, your student can provide written consent allowing medical professionals to release certain information to you or other third parties; however, this written consent is specific to the medical office and cannot be transferred to educational offices on campus.
Where can I read more about FERPA regulations?
FERPA is a Federal policy governed by the U.S. Department of Education. The Department’s website provides the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act in its entirety.
