FERPA for Parents and Family
The Family and Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law regarding the privacy of student records and the obligations of the institution, primarily in the areas of release of the records and the access to these records. Any educational institution that receives funds under any program administered by the U.S. Secretary of Education is bound by FERPA requirements. Institutions that fail to comply with FERPA may have funds administered by the Secretary of Education withheld.
Do parents have a right of access to their child’s educational records?
Although parents do not have a right to these records, the university is permitted to share these records with the parents if the student is a dependent of the parents for federal income tax purposes. If the student is a dependent, the university is permitted to release records to the parent, including directory information and non‐directory information.
Requesting access to your student’s educational records
- A parent can initiate a request for access to a student’s information through The Lumberjack Family Hub.
- For technical assistance, contact support@campusesp.com.
Joining The Lumberjack Family Hub
The Lumberjack Family Hub will allow you to connect to your student by sending them a request to access their records. On the day after the request is approved, you will have access to view their information. The data will be updated nightly.
Parents and Family Members can Join for Free
- Complete a quick on-boarding survey
- Click on “Discover Communities” and add those that interest you.
- Update your profile! Users can click the person icon in the top right corner of the page and click “Edit my Profile.”
- Update notification settings! Users can click the person icon in the top right corner of the page and click “Edit Notification Preferences.” Get alerts when something changes!
Connecting to Your Student
- To connect to your student, click the graduation cap icon in the top-right corner of the page. Please note that your student must approve the request. Only then will you be able to access their information the following day.
- Enter either the student’s personal email address used on their admissions application if this is the first semester they are attending Northern Arizona University or, if they are a continuing student enter their Northern Arizona University email address.
- Parents and family can request access to:
- Academic Records – Office of the Registrar
- Financial Aid Records – Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid
- Student Financial Records – Student and Departmental Accounts
- The student will receive an email with the request and a link to approve or deny the request.
- Once access is granted, the requester must wait 24 hours to view the requested information.
- If your student will enroll at NAU in the upcoming semester, then the student connection feature will become available after they register for classes or begin attending classes. Therefore, they may not receive an email to accept your connection request right away.
Having trouble connecting to your student?
- Cancel the request by clicking on the graduation cap; scroll to the bottom, Click “Cancel this connection.”
- Start a new request with the student’s correct email address.
- Student gets an email and approves your request.
When students accept their parent or family member’s request, they must accept the connection and then must approve the FERPA requests. Parents and family members can either request everything or choose à la carte what they would like to see. Similarly, the student can either grant or deny access to everything, or pick and choose what they would like their parent to have access to. Students can revoke access at any time by logging into The Lumberjack Family Hub with their NAU username and password.
Directory Information
Directory information is a student’s information that may be released without the consent of the student. Directory information includes the following:
- Name, local and permanent address, and phone number
- Email address
- Major field of study
- Dates of attendance
- Degrees, honors, and awards received
- Participation in officially recognized activities and sports
- Weight and height of members of athletic teams
- The most recent previous educational agency or institution attended by the student
- Enrollment status (undergraduate, graduate, freshman, part-time, full-time)
Frequently Asked Questions
Recently many questions have arisen concerning the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the university’s obligations to share information about students with their parents. You may find more information on our Frequently Asked Questions page.