/Institutions/Molloy-College/json/2023-2024/Shared-Content-local.json

/Institutions/Molloy-College/json/2023-2024/Shared-Content.json

Shared Content > Compliance with Federal Regulations > Confidentiality and Directory Information

Confidentiality and Directory Information

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), a Federal law, requires that Molloy University, with certain exceptions, obtain a student's written consent prior to the disclosure of personally identifiable information from the student's education records. However, Molloy University may disclose appropriately designated "directory information" without written consent, unless the student has requested non-disclosure. Directory information is defined as that information which would not generally be considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if disclosed. It can be disclosed to outside organizations without prior written consent. Designated directory information at Molloy University includes the following:

• Student's name (both Legal and Chosen Name)
• Address (see policy explanation)
• Telephone listing (see policy explanation)
• Electronic mail address (see policy explanation)
• Photograph
• Date and place of birth
• Major field of study
• Dates of attendance (an academic year or semester, not specific daily records)
• Grade level or classification
• Enrollment status (e.g., undergraduate or graduate, full-time or part-time, withdrawn or on leave)
• Participation in officially recognized activities and sports
• Weight and height of members of athletic teams
• Degrees, honors and awards received
• The most recent educational agency or institution attended
• Student identifications numbers (excludes passwords and PINS)

Molloy University does not give student home addresses or phone numbers to outside callers (family, friends, prospective employers, etc.), but Molloy may use this information to contact the student, to distribute university information for outside organizations and as needed for governmentally mandated institutional reporting to federal and state agencies. Email addresses are available to the campus community through the university email software.

Non-directory information is confidential and is not released without the student's consent. Items such as a student's social security number or any parts thereof, GPA, specific disciplinary actions, health status, financial aid awards, billing information, test scores, specific grades received, race, ethnicity, religion, gender or country of origin are confidential. A student must sign a release to have this confidential information given out. Letters of recommendation may only include the student's GPA or grades in Molloy classes if the student has signed a release.

Students may waive their right to review confidential letters and statements of recommendations under FERPA subject to not being required to do so as a condition of admission to or for receipt of a service or benefit from the institution. The documents that students have waived their rights to access may only be used for the designated purpose. The waiver must be in writing, dated, state the purpose of the disclosure, specify the record to be released, identify the party or class of parties to whom disclosure may be made and signed by the student. All transcripts must similarly be requested by a signed release. Transcript requests will be processed, if the student has no financial and/or other outstanding college obligations. (Contact the specific campus office for instructions on how to request the release of other information.)

Biometric information (records with one or more measurable biological or behavioral characteristics that can be used for identification of an individual, such as fingerprints, retina and iris patterns, voiceprints, DNA sequence, facial characteristics and handwriting) is considered confidential and will not be released without consent.

Any student who does not want even the standard directory information released without prior written consent, must sign and submit the "Request to Prevent Disclosure of Directory Information" at the Registrar's Office prior to the second week of the Fall or Spring term. The request will be honored until the end of the academic year. A new form for non-disclosure must be completed each academic year. A "Request to Prevent Disclosure of Directory Information" prevents release of all elements of directory information. Molloy University does not apply a "no release" request differentially to the various directory information elements. (Students should note that the request to withhold directory information may prevent some Molloy e mailings from reaching the student and may delay potential employers from gaining essential information needed for background checks. Regardless of the effect upon the student, Molloy University assumes no liability for honoring student's instructions that information be withheld.)

For health or safety emergency situations, Molloy University Security should be contacted and provided a description of the situation and satisfactory justification for contacting the student. If the situation warrants, Molloy University Security may try to intercede by locating and notifying the student of an emergency. At the discretion of University officials, a limited amount of information may be made to appropriate parties, including parents, in connection with an emergency, when the information is necessary to protect the health and safety of the student or other persons.

On July 1, 2001, the NY State Education Law, Section 2-B (Chapter 214 of the Laws of 2000) became effective, restricting the use of social security numbers from being provided to faculty and staff on identification cards, in student directories and class lists, unless specifically authorized or required by law. Molloy University complies internally with this law to protect students against the invasion of privacy and identity theft.

The only other information that will be released without prior written consent is under those circumstances specified by federal law, such as requests for information governed by the Solomon Act or the Patriot's Act and by court orders or subpoenas. Disclosure of personally identifiable information to the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) is allowed with the student's consent on the Form I-20.

Requests for viewing and challenging the student's file should be made in writing directly to the appropriate administrative office. Examples of offices maintaining educational records for such inspection are as follows: Office of Admissions, Office of the Registrar, the Financial Aid Office and Academic Support Services. Students are not allowed access to financial statements of their parents or guardians, confidential statements to which the student has waived access rights or records containing information about another student. Students may challenge the contents of their educational records in accordance with University procedures, as set forth in Molloy University's Procedure for Compliance and through appeals as described in this catalog and the Molloy University Student Handbook.