Library Media Program

Library Media

Contact Us

Location: Winther Hall 6036
Email: libmedia@uww.edu 

Fieldwork

Student Authorization to Release Records

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA or the Buckley Amendment) is a federal law that affords students certain rights with respect to their educational records. Under FERPA, school officials, including instructors, university supervisors, and cooperating library media specialists, are prohibited from disclosing educational records or discussing a student's performance in a course or in any field experience without signed authorization from the student.

The written statement of reference written on behalf of a student by a cooperating library media specialist or university supervisor does not provide that person with authorization to discuss the student's performance with anyone other than the student, university supervisor, or other faculty member who has demonstrated a professional need to know, even if the letter is given directly to the student and even if the letter welcomes telephone calls or other inquiries about the student.Therefore, all students must provide the cooperating library media specialist and university supervisor with a completed and signed Student Authorization for Release of Education Record Information form if they wish to authorize these individuals to disclose educational records or discuss their performance. For information about FERPA and to obtain a copy of the Student Authorization form, go to the website of the UW-Whitewater Office of the Registrar (http://www.uww.edu/registrar/). On the left side of the screen under Quicklinks, click the heading FERPA where links are provided to an overview, basic rules and the form. Questions on this should be directed to the Registrar's Office (262-472-1570). It is the student's responsibility to obtain a signed form. The cooperating library media specialist and university supervisor should keep a copy of the signed form.