Student Privacy Rights

Michigan State University ("the University") maintains student education records and is responsible for their access to and release in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, 20 U.S.C. § 1232g ("FERPA"). It is the policy of the University to comply with FERPA.

Michigan State University Access to Student Information is printed in the Academic Programs catalog.


Information for Students:


Directory Restriction Request (Online Form)

FERPA for Students: What Every Student Should Know (PowerPoint)    (PDF)

Notification of Student Rights and Notice for Directory Information

Release of Information Authorization (PDF)

Student Reference Request Release (PDF)

FERPA Training:


A training module regarding the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is now available in Desire2Learn (D2L). To complete the module, please log in to d2l.msu.edu and self-register for the course titled "FERPA for MSU staff and faculty."

Solomon Amendment



Related Information:


Student Rights and Responsibilities

Alumni Affairs Information

Data Release

Analytics and Data Solutions

Federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act

Student Records and the Federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act

Directory Release Information

Graduate School

Human Research Protection Program

Institute for Public Policy & Social Research

Information Technology Services (MSU Institutional Data Policy)

Office of the Provost

Retention of University Records

Student Affairs

Student Life

Transmission of Personally‐Identifiable Information

Undergraduate Education



Frequently Asked Questions:


FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) (PDF)

FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) for PARENTS (PDF)



Records Retention:


University Archives & Historical Collections - General Schedules



Turnitin, an online anti-plagiarism tool:


May 14, 2007 Turnitin Memorandum to Deans, Directors, Chairs (PDF)